WWYD Bus took a detour

[SandyY2K]

I was just wondering WWYD in this situation. Just seeing if it's the same as my thought process.

DD was coming home on the bus, when the driver took a wrong turn. There was no diversion of any sort. He said absolutely nothing to the passengers by way of an explanation or apology and got himself back on route by turning round. DD got the reg number when she got off.

Unfortunately this caused a massive delay as the bus then got stuck in traffic...resulting in DD being late /missing a private lesson, which the tutor (not unreasonably) wanted payment for.

For clarity, I have no issue with the tutor and she's been paid.

WWYD in relation to the bus detour?

I can see your frustration & I personally wouldn’t want to pay for a lesson we didn’t attend that wasn’t my doing.

40 minutes to add onto a journey is a lot of time, but saying that I think it’s one of those things unfortunately that you have to take in your stride.

It doesn't hurt to ask the company for compensation for the lesson cost.

Although not the same I've had two taxi fares refunded by a bus company. Once when a bus didn't stop as I was waiting on a dark road (I was shining a torch at the road) and another time when I waited to his for multiple buses that never arrived.

you're not going to get it, but you could try if you enjoy futility.

Honestly you're at nothing. If transport companies starting compensating for lateness, where would it stop, plan tickets etc. you are dreaming if you think they'll entertain that.

I was once on a bus in Auckland that took a wrong turn. The driver was clearly new. People shouted "wrong turn". He got back on the original route with the help of the passengers who shouted "left", "right", "keep going" the whole route. I thought it was funny but also so refreshingly lovely to witness. Not a bad word was said about him on the bus.

My OH is a school bus driver..... and often they are swapped on their routes.... its a lot to remember and they are only human , so to me it would depend very much on how stressed you wish to make someone feel about the security of their job for a small lapse, how would YOU feel if it had been you driving.... and how much effect would a complaint have on your peace of mind at work
I suppose all hinges on whether this has been a common occurrence with the same driver or not

Stuff happens unfortunately. The bus could have got stuck behind an accident, been put on detour for road works, late changing drivers or your daughter could have missed the bus... This time the driver made a mistake (they drive several different routes every shift so probably just had one of those moments, like we all do, and took a wrong turn) alas life doesn't always go to plan. He should have said 'sorry guys, took a wrong turn but im getting us back on track' but there's not much more he could do.

Thing is op you said in your header. 'Bus driver took a detour.' NO he made a mistake, have you never made one ?

A few years ago I was waiting on a bus but the driver forgot to come down the road. Last bus of the night so after an hour I had to get a taxi which was about £25. I wrote a letter requesting to be compensated which I was. It wasn’t to put the driver but I didn’t think I should be out of pocket . In ur case I guess it depends how much time u usually have to get to the lesson and how much later the delayed bus was .

What would I do in these circumstances?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing other than chalk it up as a mild inconvenience that happened once.

I once got a bus from Kensington high St. to Hammersmith and the conductor (yes in those days we had them) was drunk and insulting to the passengers. When I got off I told two inspectors and they didn't want to know. I'd take a diversion any day over that.

I wouldn't complain about this. But I would double check my DD isn't trying to pull a fast one so she misses her private lesson. 40 minute delay for a wrong turn sounds excessive to me....

Surely it was just a mistake. Everyone makes them. No need to do anything,