Article: Brisbane buses flout traffic rules

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Brisbane buses flout traffic rules

Brisbane buses flout traffic rules

    * by Ursula Heger
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * March 04, 2010 7:27PM

BRISBANE'S bus drivers are regularly flouting the road rules, racking up more than 100 speeding and red light offences last financial year.

Documents released under Right to Information laws show seven drivers have been fired over repeated dangerous driving offences, while a further five have been given final warnings.

One driver was caught driving more than 20km/h over the limit on busy Moggill Rd in Indooroopilly, prompting concerns for passenger safety.

The figures also show Brisbane bus drivers ran 34 red lights last financial year, while a further 56 were caught for driving up to 13km/h over the limit.

Another 10 drivers were caught driving between 13km/h and 20km/h over the speed limit, while one was reprimanded after being caught parking a bus in a clearway on Alice St.

The fines, not including those issued by police, totalled nearly $20,000 for the year.

But the offences committed by Brisbane bus drivers were a significant improvement on the previous year, when almost 150 speeding or red light incidents were recorded.

Brisbane bus drivers are responsible for paying their own fines.

They are given a warning after their first offence and a show-cause notice if they incur a second fine within six months.

Rail, Bus and Tram union state secretary David Matters said drivers were not given enough time to get through traffic lights without endangering passengers.

"I would like to see the amber lights longer, if it (the change) was three seconds it would give more time for pulling up," he said.

Mr Matters said drivers were under pressure to deliver passengers on time and at times they came under attack from passengers about delays.

Brisbane City Council transport chair Jane Prentice said bus driver offences had been reduced.

"Brisbane buses are safer than ever before, with these offences down by 25 per cent, despite there being more buses on the road than ever before," she said.

I take my hat off to bus drivers in Brisbane, a very demanding task driving in the mess on the roads.  More bus priority lanes would help, and bus responsive traffic signals.

[longboi]

Red light offences are understandable in most cases because:
a) Buses are on very tight schedules
b) Buses can't stop as quickly if the light suddenly changes

Considering this is a carbon copy of an article last year (Thanks Ursula!) and the figures are down, BCC have clearly been improving their safe driving record.

[O_128]

good old ursala