North East Buses
Driving Standards of late - Printable Version

+- North East Buses (https://northeastbuses.co.uk)
+-- Forum: Local Bus Scene (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Management & Infrastructure (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Driving Standards of late (/showthread.php?tid=4144)

Pages: 1 2 3 4


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rob44 - 31 Jan 2023

(30 Jan 2023, 9:30 am)Adrian wrote 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.

Its against the hight way code to avoid stationay traffic at a round a bout be using ther incorrect lane and doing a 360 degree tuen.  As is speeding and drink driving ....

(30 Jan 2023, 10:35 pm)F114TML wrote Why? It's a perfectly legal, and in some cases, necessary, maneuver.
Hand in your keys at the nears police station or retake your test immediately!!


RE: Driving Standards of late - Unber43 - 31 Jan 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 8:42 am)Rob44 wrote Its against the hight way code to avoid stationay traffic at a round a bout be using ther incorrect lane and doing a 360 degree tuen.  As is speeding and drink driving ....

Hand in your keys at the nears police station or retake your test immediately!!
Just because its in the highway code to avoid it doesn't mean it illegal. 

In the highway code it says you should only flash to show presence and honk the horn to show presence, no one does that are you going to be given out 3 points to them too?


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rob44 - 31 Jan 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 8:59 am)Unber43 wrote Just because its in the highway code to avoid it doesn't mean it illegal. 

In the highway code it says you should only flash to show presence and honk the horn to show presence, no one does that are you going to be given out 3 points to them too?

That's me not letting buses out at bus stops then even though that the highway code.... be warn bus drivers!!


RE: Driving Standards of late - streetdeckfan - 31 Jan 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 9:27 am)Rob44 wrote That's me not letting buses out at bus stops then even though that the highway code.... be warn bus drivers!!

But isn't that in direct contradiction to other points of the highway code that you shouldn't use your indicators to ask for permission, or cause other vehicles to slow down when pulling out?

Surely it shouldn't be one rule for buses and one rule for the rest of the road users!


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rob44 - 31 Jan 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 12:20 pm)streetdeckfan wrote But isn't that in direct contradiction to other points of the highway code that you shouldn't use your indicators to ask for permission, or cause other vehicles to slow down when pulling out?

Surely it shouldn't be one rule for buses and one rule for the rest of the road users!

I would assume due to the nature of buses pulling in to bus stop laybys and then having to re-enter traffic is a special rule for them.  Surely you've seen the stickers of the bus driver with his thumb out say " thanks for letting me out" and then "high way code ruleXXX"


RE: Driving Standards of late - Adrian - 31 Jan 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 8:42 am)Rob44 wrote Its against the hight way code to avoid stationay traffic at a round a bout be using ther incorrect lane and doing a 360 degree tuen.  As is speeding and drink driving ....

Which part/rule of the Highway Code are you reading there?


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rob44 - 31 Jan 2023

Avoiding queuing traffic at roundabout by using the incorrect lane and doing a full circle of the round about is not allowed!!! I definitely read that somewhere and i also got a ticket when I tried it at the Tyne tunnel years ago ( must have been about 2003/2004. Although i cant seem to find it on the net. I would say though Adrian if you were driving and the lane on your right was right turn only but someone overtook you causing to to break because they fancied going straight on you wouldn't think the was ok??? The lane the bus was clear marked right turn retail park. the bus ended up not only stopping on the roundabout almost causing a crash but went to the metro centre which is clearly marked as the inside lane.


RE: Driving Standards of late - Adrian - 31 Jan 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 4:57 pm)Rob44 wrote Avoiding  queuing traffic at roundabout by using the incorrect lane and doing a full circle of the round about is not allowed!!! I definitely read that somewhere and i also got a ticket when I tried it at the Tyne tunnel years ago ( must have been about 2003/2004.  Although i cant seem to find it on the net.  I would say though Adrian if you were driving and the lane on your right was right turn only but someone overtook you causing to to break because they fancied going straight on you wouldn't think the was ok???  The lane the bus was clear marked right turn retail park. the bus ended up not only stopping on the roundabout almost causing a crash but went to the metro centre which is clearly marked as the inside lane.

So is it in the Highway Code or not, Rob? You can't seem to find reference of it, and nor can I.

BIB: That's not what they're doing by slingshotting a roundabout. Your example is cutting someone up, by using a lane not for it's intended direction. Slingshotting follows the lanes on a roundabout as allocated, but merely annoys other motorists who see it as queue jumping.


RE: Driving Standards of late - F114TML - 01 Feb 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 12:26 am)EsBazza wrote One of my pet hates. 


Do I really need to explain this?
Yes! Please do as I genuinely don't see why people are so butthurt over what is ultimately a minor inconvenience (when done right).


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rob44 - 01 Feb 2023

(31 Jan 2023, 5:11 pm)Adrian wrote So is it in the Highway Code or not, Rob? You can't seem to find reference of it, and nor can I.

BIB: That's not what they're doing by slingshotting a roundabout. Your example is cutting someone up, by using a lane not for it's intended direction. Slingshotting follows the lanes on a roundabout as allocated, but merely annoys other motorists who see it as queue jumping.

it still stands that the bus was in the lane that was right turn retail park and i think it even has ONLY written on the road. Like i said i did it years ago at the tyne tunnel and was told you cant do that and I can see why... imagine eveyone did it then no one would get anywhere.  then there was the fact the bus decided to literally STOp on the round about to let his fellow bus driver out nearly causing an accident there.  Whether its in the highway code ( which im sure it is) or not a professional driver should know better then to ignore what written on signage and the road to keep all road users safe,

PS - the bloke who cut you up in my example is doind the same as the bus did - using the wrong lane at a roundabout whichever way you wan to cook it


RE: Driving Standards of late - Bazza - 01 Feb 2023

(01 Feb 2023, 1:29 am)F114TML wrote Yes! Please do as I genuinely don't see why people are so butthurt over what is ultimately a minor inconvenience (when done right).

See comments on the thread ‘State of the Fleet’ in GNE and you will see that maybe it was a poor attempt at sarcasm!

Although not merging properly is indeed a pet hate !


RE: Driving Standards of late - omnicity4659 - 02 Feb 2023

(01 Feb 2023, 10:03 am)Rob44 wrote it still stands that the bus was in the lane that was right turn retail park and i think it even has ONLY written on the road. Like i said i did it years ago at the tyne tunnel and was told you cant do that and I can see why... imagine eveyone did it then no one would get anywhere.  then there was the fact the bus decided to literally STOp on the round about to let his fellow bus driver out nearly causing an accident there.  Whether its in the highway code ( which im sure it is) or not a professional driver should know better then to ignore what written on signage and the road to keep all road users safe,

PS - the bloke who cut you up in my example is doind the same as the bus did - using the wrong lane at a roundabout whichever way you wan to cook it

Tyne Tunnel has its own regulations, I don't recall there being any roundabouts within their ownership. I assume you changed lanes which is an offence under TT regulations.

Regardless of if the lane has ONLY on it or not, further turns are only prohibited by a no U-turn sign. There are no bans on U-turning on any roundabout.


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rob44 - 02 Feb 2023

(02 Feb 2023, 12:39 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Tyne Tunnel has its own regulations, I don't recall there being any roundabouts within their ownership. I assume you changed lanes which is an offence under TT regulations.

Regardless of if the lane has ONLY on it or not, further turns are only prohibited by a no U-turn sign. There are no bans on U-turning on any roundabout.

It was the round about at the south end of the tunnel - we are talking 2004 ish. the outside lane was for Jarrow only but i followed a car and they ended up dong the same as me a 470 turn around the round about that was there.... bloke in tyne tunnel uniform came across the them and then me tell me what i had done was illegal and handed me a paper that used something to prove this.... 

And like i said I'm sure i read the using the incorrect lane at a round about to avoid queuing traffic is a volition of the high way code - not a u turn but going wanting to left but using the right hand lane then traveling 470 degrees around it, cause more delay for those sitting in the correct lane as directed by the signs and the paint on the road.


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rapidsnap - 02 Feb 2023

Before they built the second tunnel, the roundabouts at the North and South end of the Tunnels fell under the bylaws of the Tunnel, this included such things as sling shotting the roundabout(s), using the bus lanes or taking a short cut through East Howdon to avoid the traffic queues. The signs about East Howdon are still their even though the bylaw is now redundant and the camera is long gone.


RE: Driving Standards of late - F114TML - 02 Feb 2023

It suppose it could also depend on how you see a roundabout - as a type of junction, or a circular one-way street with junctions.


RE: Driving Standards of late - Storx - 02 Feb 2023

(02 Feb 2023, 7:08 pm)F114TML wrote It suppose it could also depend on how you see a roundabout - as a type of junction, or a circular one-way street with junctions.

That's called a gyratory, not a roundabout - just saying.


RE: Driving Standards of late - ne14ne1 - 02 Feb 2023

Never knew that form of queue jumping was called slingshotting.

Hate queue jumpers.


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rob44 - 03 Feb 2023

(02 Feb 2023, 6:06 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Before they built the second tunnel, the roundabouts at the North and South end of the Tunnels fell under the bylaws of the Tunnel, this included such things as sling shotting the roundabout(s), using the bus lanes or taking a short cut through East Howdon to avoid the traffic queues. The signs about East Howdon are still their even though the bylaw is now redundant and the camera is long gone.

Well that explains that then,  Cheers


RE: Driving Standards of late - omnicity4659 - 05 Feb 2023

(02 Feb 2023, 6:06 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Before they built the second tunnel, the roundabouts at the North and South end of the Tunnels fell under the bylaws of the Tunnel, this included such things as sling shotting the roundabout(s), using the bus lanes or taking a short cut through East Howdon to avoid the traffic queues. The signs about East Howdon are still their even though the bylaw is now redundant and the camera is long gone.

The yellow sign was removed a couple of years ago. The no entry signs are still unlawfully on display though.


RE: Driving Standards of late - Rapidsnap - 07 Feb 2023

Looking at Google Streetview the sign disappeared in 2021.


Driving Standards of late - 6049 - 08 Feb 2023

You lot must be great fun at parties. People do it all the time, as long as they're in the correct lane at all times on the roundabout, there is nothing to stop you doing it. The merge 3mile from the Lane closure folks are the only ones who usually get their knickers in a twist over it.

Sent from my SM-S901B using Tapatalk


RE: Driving Standards of late - omnicity4659 - 08 Feb 2023

(08 Feb 2023, 12:19 am)6049 wrote You lot must be great fun at parties. People do it all the time, as long as they're in the correct lane at all times on the roundabout, there is nothing to stop you doing it. The merge 3mile from the Lane closure folks are the only ones who usually get their knickers in a twist over it.

Sent from my SM-S901B using Tapatalk

Their bus to the party is currently delayed as the driver doesn't want to slingshot roundabouts and has been merging a mile from a lane closure  Wink


RE: Driving Standards of late - Unber43 - 25 May 2023

Just thought I would put this in here, 

What is it like as a drivers point of view for driving with a steering wheel which isn't aligned properly?


RE: Driving Standards of late - Andreos1 - 25 May 2023

(25 May 2023, 4:05 pm)Unber43 wrote Just thought I would put this in here, 

What is it like as a drivers point of view for driving with a steering wheel which isn't aligned properly?

Appreciate it's not a bus, but my first car had a wonky steering wheel. 

As long as my hands were in the correct position and I was focusing on the road, it made absolutely no difference whatsoever.

If I put my hands at an angle to suit the steering wheel, then it would have been carnage.


RE: Driving Standards of late - F114TML - 25 May 2023

(25 May 2023, 4:53 pm)Andreos1 wrote Appreciate it's not a bus, but my first car had a wonky steering wheel. 

As long as my hands were in the correct position and I was focusing on the road, it made absolutely no difference whatsoever.

If I put my hands at an angle to suit the steering wheel, then it would have been carnage.
I'm the same in the bus - in fact often it takes me a while to even realise it's off-centre.


RE: Driving Standards of late - deanmachine - 27 May 2023

(25 May 2023, 5:50 pm)F114TML wrote I'm the same in the bus - in fact often it takes me a while to even realise it's off-centre.

Same, I've only ever really noticed when it blocks my speedo. The first bus I ever drove, one of the GNE Cadets had an offset wheel, as did the coach I was learning in after.


RE: Driving Standards of late - nova347 - 27 May 2023

(27 May 2023, 10:37 am)deanmachine wrote Same, I've only ever really noticed when it blocks my speedo. The first bus I ever drove, one of the GNE Cadets had an offset wheel, as did the coach I was learning in after.
It seems like alot of GNE Deptford streetlites have an ofset wheel.


RE: Driving Standards of late - tcts24 - 28 May 2023

(25 May 2023, 4:05 pm)Unber43 wrote Just thought I would put this in here, 

What is it like as a drivers point of view for driving with a steering wheel which isn't aligned properly?

Really doesn't bother me and can sometimes take a few hours to even notice it


RE: Driving Standards of late - Ambassador - 28 Aug 2023

Interesting one today, took mrs ambassador out for a bite to eat, we had planned the Shep and Sheperdess but ended up heading to the Moorings.

Beamish was utter chaos and my 28 was stuck in heavy traffic. Once we got to Station Cottages, he became more irritable and shouting at cars. We then suddenly reversed into a small lane by Station Cottages, narrowly avoiding hitting two cars and headed back towards High Handenhold. He asked anyone for beamish to get off and walk and then suggested he might end up turning around and going to Newcastle as it would take an hour to Chester.

He then drove like an utter lunatic through 30 zones, not in service, we were only 10 minutes late by this point down through Urpeth towards the Moorings


RE: Driving Standards of late - DaveFromUpNorth - 28 Aug 2023

(28 Aug 2023, 10:24 pm)Ambassador wrote Interesting one today, took mrs ambassador out for a bite to eat, we had planned the Shep and Sheperdess but ended up heading to the Moorings.

Beamish was utter chaos and my 28 was stuck in heavy traffic. Once we got to Station Cottages, he became more irritable and shouting at cars. We then suddenly reversed into a small lane by Station Cottages, narrowly avoiding hitting two cars and headed back towards High Handenhold. He asked anyone for beamish to get off and walk and then suggested he might end up turning around and going to Newcastle as it would take an hour to Chester.

He then drove like an utter lunatic through 30 zones, not in service,  we were only 10 minutes late by this point down through Urpeth towards the Moorings


If this is factually true... I would advise to contact GNE directly 

Don't worry the CCTV onboard will back your account of the story 

But GNE can also learn from this experience too and add it into their training