Buggy tipped over on bus today - guilt but also driver at fault

[Daisiesonthelawn]

two year old luckily unharmed. I am shaken up and also worried DD will no longer like buses. I just feel terrible but also angry about negligent driving of bus driver. AIBU?

It was one of the buses that was going extremely fast and almost didn’t see us at bus stop. It didn’t pull in properly (although quiet road) and so my elderly mum, DD and I had to walk into road to get on. I pushed pram on and bus sped off straight away. The doors actually closed on my mum’s back. I parked the pram in the pram area and sat in nearest seat (no one else on bus, all empty). I am five months pregnant and have sciatica- usually I would stand with pram but I was really struggling today after taking my daughter to museum. Plus, because of the erratic driving, it was actually very difficult to stand in the bus. At the next bus stop, the driver braked very suddenly and pram tipped over. I reached out but didn’t catch it. My daughter luckily just has a bruised hand.

the driver got out and started shouting at me- that I should be holding on to the pram and that it was my fault. I was trying to check on my daughter and asked him to stop shouting. When he continued I said he shouldn’t have been driving so fast or braking like that which made him even more angry. He kept putting on the “stay with your pram” prerecorded announcement in a passive aggressive way. A fellow passenger who got on at that stop but hadn’t seen incident said I should get a incident report form, but driver said nothing like that existed. We ended up getting off and walking home very shaken up.

i have reported to the bus operator and they have said it will be investigated.

i just feel terrible I wasn’t holding on. The configuration of bus meant it was impossible from the seat to also hold onto pram. An unusual bus inside, not like others used in area.

also, I specifically do not hang anything onto pram handles. So it wasn’t too heavy. But this was our yoyo2 which I have only used a few times and I do think they’re really unsteady compared to other prams.

The driver was wrong for driving irratically, but as you now know, you really do need to either secure the pram (if it's possible) or stay with the pram to ensure this doesn't happen. A bus driver might have to do a sharp break at any time, even really good bus drivers have to if something unexpected pops up in front of them.

I think you should have cottoned on to it being a bumpy ride when you got on, seeing as it sped off the way it did.

Oh wow how rude was the driver ! My guess is he was so aggressive because he knew he was diving wayy to fast !

My DDs buggy fell over once on the bus too when the driver braked harshly had to stop at a zebra crossing unexpectedly . The brake had slipped off the pram and it fell forward like you I went to reach out but missed . Thankfully she was ok shocked but ok. The driver was very helpful and couldn’t apologise enough.

Your DD is fine so please don’t worry yourself sick . I’d be well annoyed with the driver and I’m glad you’ve reported him .

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x

I have the buggy on the bus at least weekly (usually far more!) and I know the perils of dodgy driving.

Im also 5months pg, and if I can’t stand with the buggy or hold on to it while sitting, toddler DD sits next to me or on my knee. They’re really not that stable.

This will have been a terrible shock for you all and whilst the driver may have been going too fast, prams need to be held onto at all times when traveling.

I think it’s true they should be held on to at all times. However, on this bus it was literally impossible to do that whilst sitting down in the nearest seat. And with my pregnancy symptoms as they are, I have to sit down! Perhaps no more buses for us for the remainder of pregnancy.

Might be best if you can't figure out a way to do it safely. Annoying for you though

Just curious as responses do seem to be different to what I see day to day- Does everyone really hold on to their pram for whole journey? I am talking tfl buses here. I don’t see most people holding on to their pram for whole journey. But completely agree that after this experience it is necessary!

I’m on London busses and in the ones I use you can hold them if you sit on one of the two seats next behind the buggy space (if that makes sense). If someone who doesn’t seem to need the seat is sitting there I ask them politely if they’d mind moving (assuming there are other seats). Never had a bad response.

Ah no I'm not in London but yes where I am people hold on

The thing is, the driver could have been driving as smoothly as possible but, if someone else caused an accident, the pram still would have tipped over.
You need to hold the pram. Just because you don’t see other passengers holding onto their prams day to day, doesn’t mean you (or they) shouldn’t.

He doesn't sound like a good driver but he's right, you have to hold onto your pram.

You should always hold on to the pram or fold it and put your child on the seat next to you. I’m glad your DD is ok, it could have been so much worse.

I was on the bus once many years ago and this couple parked their pram in the space and sat on the chairs on the other side of the bus. The bus went around a sharp corner and the pram tipped over and I saw a newborn baby fly out of the pram and hit its head on the pram handle. I will never get that image out of my head.

I have always held onto my prams, either with my hands or foot if needs be.

I get that and have specifically said I agree! just keep replaying in my head though, how on earth I would have managed today with any other scenario. I absolutely had to sit down, and there was nowhere to sit that would allow me to also hold pram. Most buses have seats within east reach, but this one didn’t.

I think you're at fault here. I wouldn't dream of leaving my child in a buggy without me holding on to it. Why didn't you take her/him out? You weren't on your own as you had someone with you. Admittedly the driver could have waited until you'd got yourself sorted. Report him if you're that agreived.

I feel a bit sorry for the driver. You do need to hold on to the pram. You can normally lean on the padded backing for wheelchairs or sit on the seats next to the pram I understand why you didn't do so but I think the driver probably just shouted because they were panicked at what happened.

Thank you! And thanks for your kind reply!

I know there was something wrong with the way the driver was driving. Him closing the doors on my elderly mum and speeding off before we’d walked down the aisle. But also know I should have held buggy. Rubbish feeling!

If I couldn't sit or stand with the pram then I'd probably take the child out to sit with me.

You take toddler out of buggy and sit them next to you, don’t leave them in the buggy when you can’t reach it, especially when the driver is driving erratically. Luckily everyone is ok, though I can see why it was a shock.

I am a bus driver, although rural (Somerset) and we are way more relaxed than London drivers.
The driver was totally unreasonable in this situation, we are trained to make sure prams, buggies and pushchairs (and wheelchairs) are placed properly and with brakes on, and there's no excuse for braking hard enough to knock anything over unless in an emergency (not at a bus stop). Our buses do allow someone to sit and hold a pushchair though?
I hope you get a response from the company and the driver gets a massive bollocking

You were not very sensible and it would be unfair on the driver to complain. Bus drivers have a difficult job - they’re supposed to keep to the timetable but go slowly enough for everyone to get on even if they take a long time (as you seem to have done).

Thank goodness everyone is ok. Lesson learned, you never ever ever let go of your pram. Public transport is shit when you’re pregnant and have a toddler but you could have taken LO out to sit on your knee, or asked your mum to stay with the pram. Otherwise you just have to deal with standing, awful as it is. I live in London too and I’d say the standard of bus driving doesn’t sound surprising and that I’ve never seen anyone not hold onto their pram for dear life. Sometimes you can sit on the pair of seats next to the pram area though and hold from there. That announcement gets played repeatedly whenever I’m on a bus too- I think it’s standard when they see buggies get on? But really glad you’re all ok.

I can't believe so many posters are blaming you!
The driver sounds completely incompetent. Going too fast, not pulling into the bus stop correctly, closing the door on a passenger and speeding off before you've parked the buggy. Then he drives erratically causing the buggy to tip. Then he gets out of his seat to shout at the shocked passenger who's child could have got hurt. What an aggressive arsehole. Please complain to the bus company stating the time and where you got on. Your story can be verified through the cctv. He doesn't sound very suited to the job in my opinion...

I hope you, DD and your mum are ok after quite a shock.

This happened to me with Dd1 who was 2 years old at the time. She sustained a head injury. The bus driver didn't even stop. Other passengers complained to the driver and helped me right the buggy because I was nearly 9 months pregnant and was struggling to get it up. I had been holding on, but he took a corner too fast and I just couldn't keep it from toppling. I complained and the bus company sent a letter of apology and a token compensation payment. They viewed the cameras on the bus and could see what had happened. The bus driver shouldn't have shouted at you.

To reassure you my daughter had no ongoing issues with getting on buses after her experience.

No, regarding the automated announcement he went back to his seat while bus was still stationary and obviously kept pressing the buggy announcement button repeatedly while I was trying to check my child! I couldn’t hear my daughter speak as he kept pressing it. With the driving as it was, it really didn’t feel right to get my toddler out of her pram and sit her next to me. Plus the driver gave me no chance as sped off as soon as we’d got on.

the more I think about it, I am certain the CCTV will show the erratic driving, braking, shouting, and issues like closing doors on passengers. TFL have been apologetic when I spoke to them and have said they will investigate fully.

On the other hand, I completely agree I should have held the buggy! Hence the guilt! No more buses for us for a while.