OzeBus Forum Post

Post by mtgg 11/01/10 @ 16:12:04

» Driving hours not enforced in Queensland

Driver orders commuters off bus STAFFORD: Commuters are concerned about the reliability of bus services around the suburb after a driver abandoned passengers 2km from their destination. The 376 bus, bound for Stafford City shopping centre, stopped at Thistle St, Gordon Park after the Brisbane City Council driver said he had been driving for five hours and needed a meal break. The 19 passengers were told to walk to Stafford City or wait half an hour for another bus. "I was astounded. I had never encountered anything like that before. He just stopped the bus and said everyone had to get off,?? said a northwest resident who did not want to be named. A regular bus commuter, John Pimm, was not on the bus but believed the driver should have driven the extra time from Gordon Park to Stafford. "I have been on buses where they have driven past stops because they didn?t have time,?? he said. "I heard the other day a bus was running late, so he piled everyone off the bus so he could get back to the depot on time.?? The 376 bus has three services per day on weekdays. Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary David Matters confirmed the incident involving the 376 service, but said "THE DRIVER COULD HAVEFACED FINES AND LOST DEMERIT POINTS FROM HIS LICENSE IF HE CONTINUED DRIVING BEYOND FIVE HOURS." Mr Matters said the driver would also have been liable had an accident occurred. The five-hour driving limit is enforced under the Transport Operations Act. "There are problems with scheduling with this particular bus ? the run needs to be timetabled,?? Mr Matters said. "A lot of passengers say the bus is usually half an hour late or doesn't come at all.'' Mr Matters said bus drivers were frequently driving beyond the legal five hours because of traffic delays and because the BCC control centre was urging drivers to break road side. "It occurs quite often where drivers take breaks beside the road,'' he said. Chair of the transport committee Jane Prentice said the 376 bus driver thought he would have completed the route before he hit traffic. "Usually we have arrangements in place, we would have a driver ready to step on to the bus,'' she said. "On this occasion this didn't happen. I understand we had a back-up bus to pick up the passengers,'' Cr Prentice added.