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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be livid with this bus driver

195 replies

NeitherNowtNorSummat01 · 11/05/2017 22:05

So, I was on a double decker bus today with my 2 year old son. We sat upstairs at the back. When the time came to get off the bus, we pressed the button, the bus stopped and we started to get off. Half was down the stairs, the drivers pulls off, I lose grip of my son (who was holding my hand) and he falls head first down the steps.
Son screamed (and screamed and screamed). Bus driver said 'is he alright' I said 'no, clearly he's not alright... why didn't you wait' and he says 'you took too long getting off the bus'
After a short conversation (I was a bit cross) he kept repeating, next time get off the bus quicker!
Would I be unreasonable to complain to the bus company
(Son is covered in bruises... and I got off the bus and cried!)

OP posts:
Bahhhhhumbug · 11/05/2017 22:25

I think a 2yr old is too young to be able to maneuver those tricky stairs with on buses. Hopefully the driver meant that he didn't realize you were coming downstairs because of the time that had passed rather than just deciding he would pull away because you'd taken too long .

RoseGoldHippie · 11/05/2017 22:26

Regardless of how the accident occurred, as previous posters have said, an accident form should have been completed whilst you were present. If this did. It happen they will be in violation of standard health and saftely regulations.

Fruitcorner123 · 11/05/2017 22:34

Please complain. Your poor son!

TizzyDongue · 11/05/2017 22:36

If you were upsysirs at the back and waited until the bus had stopped before you got out your seats, walked down the bus and slowly made your way down the stairs the yes you would have taken too long to get off the bus.

However that doesn't make it OK that your son has hurt himself on the bus

BlondeB83 · 11/05/2017 22:36

Definitely complain! The driver has mirrors to see upstairs and lots of buses have CCTV now also. Complain!!

snowpony · 11/05/2017 22:38

Please please complain. If he didn't wait for you he might do the same to others - my elderly great aunt broke her hip when a bus driver pulled away before she had a chance to sit down. Literally ruined her life, she had to go into a home afterwards. She didn't want to make a fuss though.... I hope you and your son are ok Flowers

Upanddownroundandround · 11/05/2017 22:38

You should complain because although your son was not badly injured (not to play down his fall at all) but this story could be much worse. He could have broken a limb, damaged his neck, back or even a head injury. The bus driver needs to know this is not acceptable and he could have seriously hurt your son or someone else if he continues like this. A formal complaint is definitely the way forward in this situation.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 11/05/2017 22:42

When getting off the bus, you ding the bell and immediately get up and go to the door so he knows you're getting off.

You do not sit and wait until the bus has stopped before even getting up. Do you realise how late that would make the bus if everyone did that?!

I'm sorry your son was hurt, but YABU.

elephantscansing · 11/05/2017 22:43

How long is a bus driver meant to wait for everyone to get on and off his bus? If you only get up when the stop nears, then you make your way slowly,down the aisle and down the stairs, then other passengers will have been waiting a long time...

CherryMintVanilla · 11/05/2017 22:44

My son got hurt, while seated, because of a reckless bus driver. But when I wrote to complain (the bus was almost flying over speed bumps) I got a lawyers letter back, basically telling me to provide details of witnesses or fuck off. If you do want to complain it might be an idea to take photos of his bruises and see a doctor. Was anyone you know on the bus at the time?

I always get up after the stop before the one I want. Most people do that you shouldn't wait until you reach the stop to get up.

I have poor balance and need to wait for the bus to stop. But that's why I always try to sit downstairs tbh. A lot of bus drivers lack patience.

PeaFaceMcgee · 11/05/2017 22:46

It's not fair to say OP and her son should have started moving towards the stairs whilst the bus was still in motion. Really unsteady and unsafe for a 2year old.

He sounds like he confessed to deliberately wanting to teach you a lesson. Either that or didn't know you were there and panicked with a defensive excuse.

Of course he has mirrors / cameras = no excuse. Fucking grumpy arsehole deserves a disciplinary.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 11/05/2017 22:48

PeaFaceMcgee Of course it's fair to say that. What isn't fair is to hold everyone else on the bus up.

scoobydoo1971 · 11/05/2017 22:48

Please complain in writing, as a phone call may be fobbed off. This is not just a personal matter but a safety issue for all passengers. My great-grandmother went blind ten years before she died because she was 'slow' leaving the bus and the driver pulled off as she was stepping off...she fell and never regained her sight again. Think of all the elderly and non-drivers out there including school children who use buses daily. This driver needs to be retrained before he causes serious injury.

Sophia1984 · 11/05/2017 22:48

There are signs all over buses saying 'please ring the bell and remain seated until he bus comes to a stop' so YANBU at all. Hope you and son are ok

Cornettoninja · 11/05/2017 22:49

It's different in different areas.

Where I'm from originally you get up and make your way to the door while the bus is still moving, where I am now nobody does this. You ding and don't move till the bus is completely stopped.

Even in my original area there were posters asking you to stay seated until the bus was stationary so I reckon that's the right way to do it factually.

Hope your dd is feeling better now op. Definitely make a complaint, especially since the driver said he thought you were taking too long. That implicitly implies he knew you were both moving.

FrancisCrawford · 11/05/2017 22:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeaFaceMcgee · 11/05/2017 22:50

How long is a bus driver meant to wait for everyone to get on and off his bus?

Enough time to ensure everyone safely gets on and off the bus, surely!

It's not like the elderly, toddlers, people with buggies, the disabled are just pissing about like a group of silly teens ffs Hmm

beekeeper17 · 11/05/2017 22:52

I would definitely take some photos of his bruises and put in a formal complaint. He should of course be regularly checking his mirrors to make sure no one is on the stairs when he starts moving. I hope your son is ok.

PeaFaceMcgee · 11/05/2017 22:53

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 - you're very wrong. Bus passengers understand that everyone needs to get on and off safely. Unless they're utter shits.

Algebraic · 11/05/2017 22:54

Go for it, because they bleat on and on about staying fully seated until the bus has come to a complete stop. Plus there are 4,000 mirrors and cameras so he would have seen you coming.

PickAChew · 11/05/2017 22:56

Do complain in writing ito the bus company. Our buses are covered in stickers telling you to stay seated until the bus stops.

if I think I might struggle to get down the stairs, I try to sit downstairs, but it's not always possible. Some double deckers simply don't have much downstairs seating at all - there's a few routes in our region served by both double deckers and single deckers and I'm relieved when it's a single decker, if I have heavy bags!

TheWitTank · 11/05/2017 22:58

Of course you are not supposed to ring the bell and then get up as the bus is moving and stand -there are signs saying not to do this and it's dangerous. You ring the bell and get up when the bus has stopped. The bus driver needs to give enough for time for passengers of all types to exit. People with pushchairs, babies, wheelchairs, disabilities, the elderly- they are going to take a little longer to disembark and the driver needs to wait as long as necessary for them to do so safely. They have paid for the journey after all, the driver isn't doing a favour!
I hope he isn't feeling too sore OP! Flowers

PickAChew · 11/05/2017 23:00

All the big bus companies have cameras all over the bus - Go north East play back the footage on some of their vehicles so you know they're watching you :o

IonaNE · 11/05/2017 23:01

I hope your DS is ok.
However, I thought it was the passengers' responsibility to get to the door by the time the bus stops at the stop they want to get off, i.e. not start the journey inside the bus when the bus has already stopped.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/05/2017 23:01

Do complain the driver was an arsehole.

He would have seen and heard you Angry

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