School bus driver refused to drop my daughter home

[Theherringbones]

My year 9 daughter gets the school bus service home from school everyday. Its a private service for her school only and It’s about a 50 minute journey.

Tonight there is an unusual amount of traffic on the roads. The driver refused to drop my daughter at her (home) stop as it would take him too long to get there. He said he would drop her somewhere 15 minutes away and she would have to have someone pick her up. She was in tears in the phone to me. The usual 50 minute trip took him about 80 minutes.

The bus stop she was dropped at is a clear run to our home as it’s the back roads and there was no traffic on them. I know that it would have taken him an extra 15 minutes to drop her home, but it is his job!

I was stuck in the middle of the traffic in the opposite direction, trying to collect my other child and had to make all sorts of crazy arrangements with friends to get to her. Luckily I made it just in time.

I had words with him and he was completely rude, ignorant, aggressive and arrogant about it. He refused to give me his name and said it would have take him too long to take her home (it would have been an extra time for him) and there wasn’t another option.

How can a private bus service that is the only reason she can attend this school, refuse to drop her home? Am I being unreasonable or should he have dropped her home, no matter what?!

Most of the private schools round here only offer a 'late' bus. They leave the schools around 6.15pm

So what? Most private schools around me offer bus services from 4pm and a later one for after clubs but that isn’t relevant to the OPs post either.

So what? So one of the posters just above me had said she had never heard of such a thing as a late bus as if it could therefore not be a real thing, whereas in my experience, it is the only one. Also relevant, as OP said her child was getting off in the dark and various posters scoffed at that as they could not understand it being dark as they assumed, from their experience, that all buses leave immediately after lessons.

Some state schools do organise buses, not just the council ones for children who live far away... I'm aware of Grammar schools and Catholic schools that do so.

Fair enough, in that case I think we are both arguing the same point

@Theherringbones , I'm afraid you're put off coming back because of all the nonstop arguing about bus stops and bus norms here but if you have an update, I'd really like to know how the school or bus company responded to your complaint!

Very simply it sounds like he couldn't or he would have been over the legal driving time.

This.

This bus policy was introduced a while back in Qld after a 13yo was abducted from a remote bus stop.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/child-safety-daniel-morcombe-bus-drivers-no-child-left-behind-kids-stranded-every-day/2b5be6e5-95d7-41c0-8154-fc1351ba0729
There are real risks, not just the child being unfamiliar with the stop. You are paying for a safe transfer of your child which they have not provided.

I left mumsnet for a while due to some of the disturbing replies I recieved and kept seeing to people. I really used to like the fact it was helpful but it turned into a group of bullies ripping people apart and being as horrible as possible. I’ve come back but I won’t be posting myself just comment if I feel i can help

I don't think he was. I think he was over his allotted hours and not prepared to do overtime.

Wow this is totally unacceptable, reading what you said about the walk etc. I would definitely make a formal complaint and he should be made to apologise to your daughter and you. Even if it was going over hours, you don't leave a teenage girl alone in the middle of nowhere!! I'd be absolutely fuming I have to say and would be at the school kicking up a big stink!!

@Theherringbones I'd be interested to know what the outcome concerning this incident. I would expect that the driver should have been reprimanded and you should have been given a formal apology from the school.

Hi everyone, thank you for all your advice and comments. (It did get a bit weird there though!)

So after I had calmed down about it all I spoke with the transport manager who told me that it wasn’t acceptable behaviour from the driver. They are solely employed by the school and there was absolutely no issue with hours or going over hours. He was simply being selfish and wanted to get home sooner rather than later.

They reassured me that this would not happen again and if anything ever does happen that I am not happy with them I now have his (transport managers) mobile and he will make sure my child is dropped where she is meant to be dropped at or alternative arrangements made with me directly if there is an actual reason that they can’t physically access the drop.

I spoke of the drivers rude behaviour and he said they would have words with him about that. I haven’t received an apology but I’m not really that fussed as long as they do their job going forward.

I guess the next big traffic incident will be telling and if something like that happens again, I will lodge a formal complaint.

Glad to read that @Theherringbones - at least the transport manager was reasonable and you have some assurances.

‘Pleased it is sorted OP. Now watch people come along, who can’t be bothered to read the updates, with more advice.

thanks so much for the update. I agree, it did get weird here!

Where I work that driver would have been up on a disciplinary - wouldn't have been sacked but would absolutely have been given a disciplinary sanction!

At least now you have the transport manager's contact details if he ever pulls a stunt like this again!