What would you do?

[Feralpeg]

I tend to be a person to stay out of things unless I think someone is being harmed. I'm just not confrontational. But, I saw something today that bothered me

I was driving home with my sister. We were on a two lane road. The speed limit on the road is 45 mph. There was a school bus directly in front of us. There was a car in front of the school bus. The car was going slower than the speed limit. I would guess about 35 mph.

The school bus was right on the tail of the car. The bus driver kept having to hit his brakes because he was so close to the car. I guess the bus driver got impatient. Suddenly, he pulled over to pass the car. The bad part is that we could see on-coming traffic in the other lane. The bus isn't really the type of vehicle that you can gun and speed up quickly. My sister and I watched the whole thing unfold and just couldn't believe what we were seeing. The on-coming traffic saw what was happening and slowed down which allowed the bus driver to pass the car and get back into the correct lane. To make matters worse, it was a no-passing zone! When we got to the stoplight at the end of the road, the bus was sitting there at the stoplight.

I took down the number of the bus and have been trying to decide if I should contact the bus company to let them know what happened. Fortunately, there were no kids on the bus at the time this happened. I really don't want to be responsible for someone losing their job considering how hard jobs are to come by here, but I can't help think that this person is too reckless to be driving a school bus. If he drove like that with no kids on the bus, would he do the same if he had passengers?

What would you do? Would you report it?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I tend to be a person to stay out of things unless I think someone is being harmed. I'm just not confrontational. But, I saw something today that bothered me

I was driving home with my sister. We were on a two lane road. The speed limit on the road is 45 mph. There was a school bus directly in front of us. There was a car in front of the school bus. The car was going slower than the speed limit. I would guess about 35 mph.

The school bus was right on the tail of the car. The bus driver kept having to hit his brakes because he was so close to the car. I guess the bus driver got impatient. Suddenly, he pulled over to pass the car. The bad part is that we could see on-coming traffic in the other lane. The bus isn't really the type of vehicle that you can gun and speed up quickly. My sister and I watched the whole thing unfold and just couldn't believe what we were seeing. The on-coming traffic saw what was happening and slowed down which allowed the bus driver to pass the car and get back into the correct lane. To make matters worse, it was a no-passing zone! When we got to the stoplight at the end of the road, the bus was sitting there at the stoplight.

I took down the number of the bus and have been trying to decide if I should contact the bus company to let them know what happened. Fortunately, there were no kids on the bus at the time this happened. I really don't want to be responsible for someone losing their job considering how hard jobs are to come by here, but I can't help think that this person is too reckless to be driving a school bus. If he drove like that with no kids on the bus, would he do the same if he had passengers?

What would you do? Would you report it?

No, I wouldn't.

And I don't know if he drives like that with kids on the bus or not. Who could say?

eta: I predict that every DISer but me would jot down the info and call.

 

[eduk8r26]

I think I would be inclined to call the bus company. If he drives like that with an empty bus, chances are he isn't going to be very careful with kids in it.

 

[Stacerita]

I probably wouldn't call. I was on the road to saying call and report until I read that there was no children on board. That makes a difference to me. If I saw kids on the bus, then yes I would call and report him. If you thought he was being reckless, I would have called the local PD or something like that.

I am also one who probably wouldn't have taken down the number. I would have made a big deal out of it if I saw it at that time. But not any further.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I would have called. I called the cab company on a cab at Disney one time that almost ran me off the road because the driver was swerving all over. It doesn't matter to me that no kids were on the bus. He was in a no passing zone and it sounds like if the opposing traffic had not slowed down he would have hit somebody. Bus vs. car are not good odds and he so easily could have hit somebody. That behavior is flat out dangerous (not to mention illegal). I don't fee lbad about soemboyd losing a job if they are not bothering to do said job appropriately or are engaging in illegal activities while doing said job. I would much rather that job go to somebody else who will work hard and perform their duties appropriately.

 

[EMom]

You bet your hiney I'd call. The driver is reckless, broke the law and endangered the lives of others just to save a few seconds. Passing in a no passing zone while driving a freaking SCHOOL BUS???? What if the oncoming driver had been a little less attentive....say a cell phone chatter? Or an inexperienced 16 y.o. driver who spooks easily? You might have witnessed a head on collision instead of a close call.

Here's what I'd ask myself....Would I want my child on a bus with that driver at the wheel? Would I want to be a driver when that person is at the wheel of a school bus at the same time? And here's the kicker......If I was the owner of the bus company, would I want someone to call me and give me a heads up that I have a Rambo driver at the wheel of one of my busses? Someone who might tend to get in a wreck for no good reason and cost me a fortune in settlement fees? Maybe even cost me my business?

Yes, I'd make the call.

 

[Cindy B]

Heck yes!

 

[marsha123]

i am very live and let live but i think i might call about that.

 

[Lib E]

No. If there had been children in the bus, then I would call.

 

[audrabolster]

I would call. Kids or not, I assume they are a city bus, and should follow all traffic rules regardless. You never know if they would drive like that or not with children. How would you feel if next week you saw a clip on the news about a school bus accident full of kids and it was the same one? I'd bet you would be kicking yourself for not calling to report his actions

 

[barkley]

I would call. Kids or not, I assume they are a city bus, and should follow all traffic rules regardless. You never know if they would drive like that or not with children. How would you feel if next week you saw a clip on the news about a school bus accident full of kids and it was the same one? I'd bet you would be kicking yourself for not calling to report his actions

same goes for if you heard on the news that the bus empty of kids hit a car head on (i've seen what a head on between 2 cars can do-i don't want to think of what could happen between a bus and a car, or cars-it could cause a horrendous chain reaction ).

 

[Liberty Belle]

I tend to be a person to stay out of things unless I think someone is being harmed. I'm just not confrontational. But, I saw something today that bothered me

I was driving home with my sister. We were on a two lane road. The speed limit on the road is 45 mph. There was a school bus directly in front of us. There was a car in front of the school bus. The car was going slower than the speed limit. I would guess about 35 mph.

The school bus was right on the tail of the car. The bus driver kept having to hit his brakes because he was so close to the car. I guess the bus driver got impatient. Suddenly, he pulled over to pass the car. The bad part is that we could see on-coming traffic in the other lane. The bus isn't really the type of vehicle that you can gun and speed up quickly. My sister and I watched the whole thing unfold and just couldn't believe what we were seeing. The on-coming traffic saw what was happening and slowed down which allowed the bus driver to pass the car and get back into the correct lane. To make matters worse, it was a no-passing zone! When we got to the stoplight at the end of the road, the bus was sitting there at the stoplight.

I took down the number of the bus and have been trying to decide if I should contact the bus company to let them know what happened. Fortunately, there were no kids on the bus at the time this happened. I really don't want to be responsible for someone losing their job considering how hard jobs are to come by here, but I can't help think that this person is too reckless to be driving a school bus. If he drove like that with no kids on the bus, would he do the same if he had passengers?

What would you do? Would you report it?

Yes, I would definitely call. You would not be responsible for the driver losing his/her job, he/she would! The children have to come first.

 

[Carly_Roach]

There were no children on the bus and the car in front of the bus was impeding traffic to the point where a bus felt the need to pass that car. As far as the no passing zone is concerned, is it possible that the bus started out in the passing zone and finished just over the line?

In any case, the bus obviously had time to pass the slower car without causing an accident. For all we know, that bus was late getting somewhere to pick up kids and followed that car until he/she saw an opportunity to pass.

I don't fee lbad about soemboyd losing a job if they are not bothering to do said job appropriately or are engaging in illegal activities while doing said job. I would much rather that job go to somebody else who will work hard and perform their duties appropriately.

The flip side of that is that is that maybe this guy, if he turns out to be an unsafe driver, was the replacement for a former safe driver that some parent made a fuss about because they didn't like that driver for whatever reason. They didn't give a rip about that driver losing their job either. Replacing someone you don't like or agree with doesn't necessarily mean their replacement will be someone better.

As long as there weren't children on the bus and the bus obviously had time to pass the other car, I feel that there's no issue here.

 

[Shmily1]

I would have called the police when I saw it and reported it to them. That does not sound like someone I would want my children riding with. If they will put their own life at risk, they very well may do that when there are children on the bus.

At the least, I would call the bus company and speak to the superintendent.

 

[Mellie2162]

No I wouldnt call.

 

[goofy4tink]

Peggy, I think I would be inclined to call. For those who say that the car in front of the bus was impeding traffic?? Do you think that would stand up if there had been a state trooper sitting there? Can you imagine what the response would have been if the bus driver had said...'Well officer, the car in front of me was going 10mph under the posted limit..I had to pass them, even if it was a no passing zone. They were driving too slowly.' Nope, doesn't cut it.
Posted speed limits are just that...the limit. I have been behind plenty of school buses that are driving well below the speed limit. Does that give me the right to pass them, especially in a no passing zone?
Nope, that driver may not have been endangering children's lives but he was endangering other drivers on the road. If someone coming the other way didn't react fast enough, who knows what may have happened.
The driver showed poor judgement.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I wouldn't have called unless there were children on board.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Here is my thing....

Maybe this bus driver has alot of infractions? Your phone call may go with nothing happening or it maybe the push they need to fire him.

I called once about one of my peds. receptionists yrs ago. She was always rude. However when I was on bedrest and my sister had to bring in my dd for her Kindergarten shots the receptionist was so cruel to my sister.
My sis does not have kids.
I called the office manager.

Well she was fired. Come to find out they were looking how to get rid of her. She did not belong in that job to put it mildy.

You never know.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I'd report it. Tough crap that the bus driver was stuck behind a slow moving vehicle in a no passing zone. We've all been there, but it is not an excuse to break the law. I wouldn't want that d-bag driving like that in my area, kids on the bus or not.

 

[barkley]

in my state there are very strict rules governing school bus drivers (weather or not any passenger is in the bus). for doing as you've described-tail gateing and an illegal lane change (heck they will even cite for an "unsafe lane change") if they both occured with the same 3 year period the driver would lose their lic. for 60 days. they take school bus safety pretty seriously.