[TC1474]

I was in my bus and had just collected my passenger from her home address to take her to a shopping centre in the next town.

Weather was fine, clear bright and dry, traffic was heavy so speeds were very slow despite being in a 30 limit and visibility was unlimited.

So travelling down a main road at about 5MPH because of the volume of traffic, I saw the junction on my left up ahead also had queuing traffic waiting to join the major carriageway.

So I am moving forward nice and slowly when suddenly I am being bounced across the road having been hit in midships on my nearside by a car who just pulled out of the junction and straight into me.. The impact lifted my front wheels (and my bus is just under 4 tonnes unladen) such was the impact, but as the front of the car hit me it started ripping off my body panels as momentum carried me forward as I got on the brakes but at the same time ripped off the front of the car that hit me to the point that there was plastic and metal all over the carriageway, steam and fluid escaped with venom from the car and we both came to a stop blocking the carriageway.

I checked my passenger was uninjured and then went to the car to check on them, and the woman driver made her opening sentence before I could say anything ?

"Sorry, I didn't see you, I am lost and looking for somewhere to park"

Her female passenger was busy yacking to her, her 2 kids were playing up, she was playing with her sat nav trying to reset it, so with all that going on, is it any surprise she didn't see me despite my vehicle being a 4 tonne big white Mercedes with DRL.

Anyway, offshoot is, several thousand pounds worth of damage to my bus (plus a bus out of commission) and her car a total write off. That is going to be one expensive bill for her insurance company, but for my fellow motorcyclists out there, definitely a SMIDSY with a difference..

[Rolebama]

In Germany we had a tank road that ran alongside the garrison from a siding on the railway. Dead straight and flat, so the lads from the town used it as a race track at night. We had been out on exercise with our Chieftains, and one had broken down. It was being towed on the road about 11pm with the lights on, and a very bright light on the gun muzzle. A car full of teenagers ran into the back at speed. Sadly, none survived.
The scene was staged a number of times on request of German civil Police, but no satisfactory explanation was ever achieved.

[Drivingforfun]

Sorry to hear

I didn't know you were a bus driver, though. Till the end I assumed by "bus" you were referring fondly to a trusty old Volvo or something!

[TC1474]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

Sorry to hear

I didn't know you were a bus driver, though. Till the end I assumed by "bus" you were referring fondly to a trusty old Volvo or something!

My background is 30 years in Traffic police, crash investigation in private law for 15 years along with driver and rider training from learner to advanced standard as well as being an advanced examiner for bikes and cars and a whole load of other stuff as well such as doing university lectures and teaching on traffic law

After my heart attack and subsequent diagnosis with heart failure I went into semi retirement and drive a community bus for a charity, so I was driving our 71 plate 16 seat Mercedes mini bus which is also adapted for carrying 2 passengers in wheelchairs securely.

I also train people how to drive them and the rules of MiDAS (Minibus driver awareness scheme) which is a national qualification for community transport drivers.

So yes a bus, but not a PCV

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

In Germany we had a tank road that ran alongside the garrison from a siding on the railway. Dead straight and flat, so the lads from the town used it as a race track at night. We had been out on exercise with our Chieftains, and one had broken down. It was being towed on the road about 11pm with the lights on, and a very bright light on the gun muzzle. A car full of teenagers ran into the back at speed. Sadly, none survived.
The scene was staged a number of times on request of German civil Police, but no satisfactory explanation was ever achieved.

I had several instance where I'm inches from a car in front of me with my red and blues flashing, my siren full on, which is loud enough to wake the dead, and they claim they did'nt see or hear me.

[Mark07]

@TC1474 I'm glad to hear that nobody was seriously injured. It sounds like it would've been a heck of a shock for everyone involved.

It's frustrating to hear that the community will be without the minibus for sometime, I guess the positive is that it was only vehicles that were damaged and they can be replaced.

I hope you're rested up and feeling ok.

[TC1474]

Originally Posted by Mark07

@TC1474 I'm glad to hear that nobody was seriously injured. It sounds like it would've been a heck of a shock for everyone involved.

It's frustrating to hear that the community will be without the minibus for sometime, I guess the positive is that it was only vehicles that were damaged and they can be replaced.

I hope you're rested up and feeling ok.

Thanks. Fortunately there were no injuries in either vehicle, and my passenger actually found it quite exciting 😉 but you are right, it is frustrating.

The bus is going to be off the road for a while, but it seems like that the insurers are on the case already as they will be providing a like for like replacement loan vehicle (Maybe different make but same capability) so disruption will be minimal.

You are right. Vehicles are lumps of metal and plastic and can be repaired or replaced, skin and bone is a dammed site more difficult to put right.