Do busses have different 'rules of the road'

dillo2k10

Hi,

I drive a lot through a particular residential area that has a bus route going through it.

The busses regurally don't yield at mini roundabouts.

When there are parked cars on their side of the road, they cross into your side forcing you to stop.

When turning corners (and I know this can't be helped) they cut across the other side of the road when turning right forcing you to stop, or back up. They never wait until you turn off the road to turn.

It's most likely caused by a lack of planning than bad bus drivers, the roads are to small for a bus.
I always do stop as I'm. It just going to drive into a bus because I have right of way. But do they have different rules? Not having to yield in some situations?

Wishbone Ash

They don't have different rules as such but large vehicles (especially heavily laden trucks)are much more difficult to manoeuvre when continually losing momentum. When learning to drive trucks and buses I was taught to encourage (in so far as possible) the car driver to stop/pull in/give way as it is much easier for them to get going again.

As a bus is about a metre wider than your car it is often necessary for them to cross the white line. If the bus driver encounters parked cars on his side of the road prior to meeting you it is acceptable for him to move out and for you to wait.

I realise that many bus drivers will take a bit extra where they can but that's a fact of life. When i'm in the car, I usually give them priority when I can.

dillo2k10

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

They don't have different rules as such but large vehicles (especially heavily laden trucks)are much more difficult to manoeuvre when continually losing momentum. When learning to drive trucks and buses I was taught to encourage (in so far as possible) the car driver to stop/pull in/give way as it is much easier for them to get going again.

As a bus is about a metre wider than your car it is often necessary for them to cross the white line. If the bus driver encounters parked cars on his side of the road prior to meeting you it is acceptable for him to move out and for you to wait.

I realise that many bus drivers will take a bit extra where they can but that's a fact of life. When i'm in the car, I usually give them priority when I can.

I usually allow them to go if possible too. I was just wondering if there were different rules.
Thanks

dudara

No different rules, but they are very different to drive. Long length and the turning circle of, well, a bus (no pun intended).

Bus drivers will always try to take the most opportune route available, as it means they can keep the bus moving.

Wishbone Ash

The only different rules which come to mind relate to speed limits - e.g. 65kph with standing passengers or double deck.

dudara wrote: »

very different to drive. Long length

I was driving an articulated bus (bendy bus) one dark wet night when I decided to take a short cut only to discover, to my horror, that about a mile in, the road was partially blocked by roadworks at a corner. My bus was too long to get around the roadworks, I couldn't turn and I was forced to reverse it back to where I turned off. Visability was practically nil and reversing lights 18 metres back from my position were practically useless. I did some serious sweating that night.

Victor

I agree with what Wishbone Ash has said.

What I would add is that a properly trained bus driver will be a much better driver than most other motorists. They need to deal with the bigger vehicle and more passengers and that brings a slightly different style of driving. For example, while many car drivers will race up to the next red light, many bus (and recently HGV) drivers will try to maintain a lower, but steady speed. With this, they are more likely to let out drivers from side roads, especially if it won't lose the bus's place in the queue.

In addition, their experience will allow them to read other road user's behaviour much better than a novice driver could, e.g. that pedestrian that has one foot on the road, but is only watching traffic coming in one direction may try to cross without checking the other direction, as they perceive it to be clear - but there is a bus coming!! One important thing is to try to gain eye-contact with the other road users that you are interacting with - it creates a sense of empathy.

Davy

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The only different rules which come to mind relate to speed limits - e.g. 65kph with standing passengers or double deck.

Where did the 65kph come from? I know it has been in place for years, but never thought about how it came to be. All speeds with X5 are recommened rather than regulated so just seems a little odd to me

Iwannahurl

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

When i'm in the car, I usually give them priority when I can.

That would be my take on it. My general view is that public transport has greater priority than me as a single-occupant car driver, for reasons of passenger numbers and efficient use of road space.

Victor

Davy wrote: »

Where did the 65kph come from? I know it has been in place for years, but never thought about how it came to be.

There are general speed limits for certain vehicle types, with the relevant regulations made my the minister:
City-type buses: 65 km/h
Large HGVs: 80 km/h
Certain small goods vehicles: 90 km/h
Coaches: 80 km/h
Coaches (on dual carriageways or motorways): 100 km/h
The lowest speed limit, the one for the vehicle or the road applies.

Davy wrote: »

All speeds with X5 are recommened rather than regulated so just seems a little odd to me

For other traffic, not buses.