https://twitter.com/sammy272908/status/1591544863891546112?s=46&t=oHhQXhAWh-m3ISYkODNtzg


I have to say when I was on the Metro Replacement buses recently I thought one of the driver’s driving standard was really poor.

More of a nitpick but can someone at GNE please tell the agency drivers on the X/900 that you're meant to blow the horn before reversing and give way to reversing vehicles (one cut across my bay as I was reversing the other day although tbf that's the only time I've seen that happen)

More of a nitpick but can someone at GNE please tell the agency drivers on the X/900 that you're meant to blow the horn before reversing and give way to reversing vehicles (one cut across my bay as I was reversing the other day although tbf that's the only time I've seen that happen)

There has been loads of complaints about the X900/900 drivers.

I sent a complaint in when one cut me up three times between the Tyne tunnel and Jarrow bus station. It then went through a red light.

Got a generic sorry and heard nothing else back despite a promise.

Witnessed absolutely fantastic driving from Arriva this evening.

Arriva 7 to Durham went flying across the roundabout on the A167 - South Road (road was clear no not a big issue), then went straight through a red light at the duke of wellington. They had plenty of time to slow down, the light was red for a good 5 seconds before they went through it.
Didn't even start to brake until it was red.

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On the 97 the other day, the driver hit more curbs than stopped at stops. I know it's a tight route at certain places but honestly, I don't think anyone could hit as many curbs as that driver did, even if they were aiming for them.

There has been loads of complaints about the X900/900 drivers.

You can take a driver out of London, but you can't take London out of the driver...

Not necessarily the same, but I was on a coach trip to York Market yesterday through Caledonian (not recommended, it's shite), and was ran by Procters.
The driving standards of the coach driver was absolutely appalling, constantly up people's arses and swerving around people on the A19, pulled out in front of someone at a roundabout causing them to slam on, and just generally braking late and hard.
There were several points on the way back where it genuinely felt dangerous!

No last bus should be running early, even by a few mins.

Well I saw something I thought I'd never see. A GNE 10B doing a 360 degree turn on a round about.... abvoiusly to avoid the traffic in the lane he should have used to go straight on. To top it off he slowed right down to let a fellow hus driver out who was in the right lane and almost cause a 3 car pile up behind him. Might even have it on my dash cam

Well I saw something I thought I'd never see. A GNE 10B doing a 360 degree turn on a round about.... abvoiusly to avoid the traffic in the lane he should have used to go straight on. To top it off he slowed right down to let a fellow hus driver out who was in the right lane and almost cause a 3 car pile up behind him. Might even have it on my dash cam

A good ol’ slingshot!


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Unfortunately that situation isn't unique to bus drivers. Most HGV drivers do it - especially when they see drivers from there own com.

Unfortunately that situation isn't unique to bus drivers. Most HGV drivers do it - especially when they see drivers from there own com.

I see HGV drivers do the ‘slingshot’ technique every morning on the Arnold Clark roundabout, heading onto the A1.

I’m always slightly more frustrated by the big HGV wagons doing it as it can completely snarl up a roundabout, but don’t get too annoyed as I understand they’re working against a 4hrs 30m clock (and likewise bus drivers are trying to abide by a schedule).


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I see HGV drivers do the ‘slingshot’ technique every morning on the Arnold Clark roundabout, heading onto the A1.

I’m always slightly more frustrated by the big HGV wagons doing it as it can completely snarl up a roundabout, but don’t get too annoyed as I understand they’re working against a 4hrs 30m clock (and likewise bus drivers are trying to abide by a schedule).


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As a car driver as well as a bus user, I actually do it as well to save time & fuel believe it or not!

It's a complete twat move if you ask me and 9/10 times cause the traffic jam in the first place.

No respect for anyone doing it and is done by arse hole drivers in general.

Nothing wrong with a slingshot, the traffic jam is already there and doesn't cause any more delay to other road users if done correctly - ie not stopping to let people out.

I do it in my cars and buses all the time.

The Arnord Clark roundabout heading onto the A1 is even worse now as you have to give way to people coming from the roundabout.

Nothing wrong with a slingshot, the traffic jam is already there and doesn't cause any more delay to other road users if done correctly - ie not stopping to let people out.

I do it in my cars and buses all the time.

Very wrong. You're literally causing the traffic.

slingshot.png (Size 10.87 KB Downloads 15)

If everyone behaved then you'd have what happens in the first flow since if the main flow is heading left then it's very likely there's a similar flow in the opposite direction. Once you start slingshotting you snarl everything up and block everyone else causing the traffic jams which usually exist; Gosforth Park near the hotel is very bad for it and there never used to be traffic when they had the barrier in the middle (not sure why they removed it).

I'd say when you need to slingshot the traffic levels will be busy enough that only 2 cars can enter the roundabout per gap, depending on how many lanes are used. At Gosforth Park, I'd only hold 5-6 cars for a few seconds longer than necessary, which judging by the number of people who slingshot wouldn't make much difference.

If everyone started slingshotting then there would be a problem, but 99% of drivers would happily sit in a queue. At the end of the day, I'd rather slingshot to stay on time and prevent queues forming onto the A1 roundabout than sitting like a lemon getting later and later.

I'd say when you need to slingshot the traffic levels will be busy enough that only 2 cars can enter the roundabout per gap, depending on how many lanes are used. At Gosforth Park, I'd only hold 5-6 cars for a few seconds longer than necessary, which judging by the number of people who slingshot wouldn't make much difference.

If everyone started slingshotting then there would be a problem, but 99% of drivers would happily sit in a queue. At the end of the day, I'd rather slingshot to stay on time and prevent queues forming onto the A1 roundabout than sitting like a lemon getting later and later.

The problem at Gosforth Park, in particular, is when you start slingshotting, your blocking the traffic heading towards the A1, since very very few cars turn right there so they'd have a free flow. If they're all turning right which a lot do, then they'd block the other direction so people turning left would get out aswell so there'd be no traffic from those 2 directions.

I'd be tempted to make the route from the Great North Road towards Wideopen buses only and force all the traffic to come from the A1 direction. You'd pretty much get arid of the traffic there and speed it up for everyone since there'd be no real conflicting flows bar people coming out of Gosforth Park and the odd bus. It's a nightmare to get out from the Great North Road anyway.

Everyone who "sling shots" I hope you get spotted by the coppers and get a dine and 3 points.

Everyone who "sling shots" I hope you get spotted by the coppers and get a dine and 3 points.

3 points for what? The Police don't issue penalty points because you've hurt another motorist's feelings.

Until it becomes illegal, I'd say the most they could try with is careless driving, but even then it'd be a nightmare to prove it was intentional.

Everyone who "sling shots" I hope you get spotted by the coppers and get a dine and 3 points.

I think the issue is whether or not they're being inconsiderate to other road users or blocking traffic flow. 

If they are, then I have an issue with it. 

However if they're not - then I have no issue at all.

Many a time I've done it myself, but I've always planned ahead and ensured that the road is and will be clear. 
I've seen others do this too. 

Many a time I've seen it and the person carrying out the manoeuvre has blocked the road (and it was pretty obvious it was going to happen prior to them getting in that position) or had no regard for other users.

There should be a zero policy on ‘sling shotting ’ and any professional driver should have their employment immediately terminated

There should be a zero policy on ‘sling shotting ’ and any professional driver should have their employment immediately terminated

no

The police do it themselves.

If it irritates someone so much that someone has negotiated the roundabout quicker than them by slingshotting... why not do the same?

Merge-in-turns are the worst for irritating people though. I imagine the do-gooders on here don't use the whole of the closing lane before merging either.

The police do it themselves.

If it irritates someone so much that someone has negotiated the roundabout quicker than them by slingshotting... why not do the same?

Merge-in-turns are the worst for irritating people though. I imagine the do-gooders on here don't use the whole of the closing lane before merging either.

Merge in turn/zip method.
Does my head in when some knacker decides to block the entire two lanes.

Two lanes of traffic for 1 mile?
Or one lane of traffic for 2 miles?

Everyone who "sling shots" I hope you get spotted by the coppers and get a dine and 3 points.

A dine? Sounds tasty. 

There should be a zero policy on ‘sling shotting ’ and any professional driver should have their employment immediately terminated

Why? It's a perfectly legal, and in some cases, necessary, maneuver.

Merge in turn/zip method.
Does my head in when some knacker decides to block the entire two lanes.

Two lanes of traffic for 1 mile?
Or one lane of traffic for 2 miles?

One of my pet hates. 

Why? It's a perfectly legal, and in some cases, necessary, maneuver.

Do I really need to explain this?