(03 Sep 2024, 7:20 pm)PH - BQA wrote My main concern here would be the mental health of the driver in these situations, and how it evidently isn't being helped by the current culture at GNE. A driver continuing to drive after an incident cannot be safe for them, their passengers, or other road users. You then have to assume that anyone doing so is under pressure, which will only amplify any negatives to an already risky situation. A senior management team which allows the creation of that sort of environment, especially when they are in a business which is literally responsible for the safety of thousands of people on a daily basis, are not fit to hold those positions. Of course there needs to be accountability and discipline when required, but there is a balance to be had and creating a culture of fear is wholly irresponsible.

I've been on vehicles of other large NE operators (and elsewhere in the country) when 'incidents' have occurred, and in each instance it has been abundantly clear that the driver had been trained on exactly what to do in each situation. I don't believe, from what you have described, that the driver intentionally broke procedure in this instance and likely wasn't sure on what it was - someone who blatantly goes against a procedure isn't going to feel as bad as they did so shortly afterwards. Therefore it points to an issue with the actual delivery of the information at some stage, but then isn't that an issue across the company right now? Ineffective people in positions they shouldn't be in, making poor decisions because they don't have the experience or capability to make the right ones. One way or another, the people working on the front line to earn the money which funds the management's massively inflated salaries are the ones to suffer.

This isn't a new thing. It's not unique to the current culture. 

However, it is up to the current management team to stop it. Not let it continue.