Disney bus crash

[jumi1984]

We got back from another fun trip and this and we seen a few fender benders but, this was one we caught on camera.

http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=159612120

 

[Sean23]

This is the message I received when I went to the link:

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[jumi1984]

http://community.webshots.com/user/novakpak

http://community.webshots.com/user/novakpak

 

[niteobsrvr]

I am sure this is a result of the new policy that Bus Drivers must exit their bus and stand outside prior to anyone boarding at the Theme and Water parks.

If those of you who are on vacation pay close attention this summer you will probably see more of these as the drivers get in a hurry to follow the new mandate and forget to set the parking brake on the bus.

This was not that unusual of an occurrence before as drivers were being switched for breaks. But now, as a driver, you have to really move to make it off the bus before anyone else enters in order to comply with this guest interaction requirement.

This time it was just a pole, next time.......................

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Opps! That's not good! Poor bus driver and guests!

Why is there the change in policy that the bus driver must first exit the bus? I was just wondering.

TheDisneyGirl02

 

[niteobsrvr]

Opps! That's not good! Poor bus driver and guests!

Why is there the change in policy that the bus driver must first exit the bus? I was just wondering.

TheDisneyGirl02

Somewhere in some office of some person who has never driven a bus except in training, they have decided that the best way to create greater guest interaction is to have the driver stand outside the bus while the guests are boarding.

The reality is most guest do not feel the bus expererience is very magical and so they are throwing idea darts in the dark trying to hit the "magic" bullseye.

The concentration shouldn't be on drivers sitting in a seat or standing outside so much as the spiels delivered over the PA systems, the packing of busses with 80 guests to the point people are on top of each other, and general personality issues with some of the drivers. Standing or sitting a grumpy is still a grumpy.

The number one focus at Disney by their own words is safety but in this case they have forgotten that having a driver outside the bus creates a potentially unsafe situation. As I stated previously, these types of accidents have happened before but with the new policy the frequency will increase.

I would imagine in the case of the pictures above the driver received full blame for the accident as he or she did fail to set the brake. The contributing factor will be ignored. In all places that I have worked as a driver and in management, if the bus is running, the driver should be in the bus. Otherwise the bus should not be running.

We wont even talk about the travel time increases of the drivers getting on and off the bus all the time. SO much for great service.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

The bus rides I remember the most are the ones where the bus drivers talk the entire ride. It just adds something to the ride.

I hope that that is not lost in the office where the ideas are thrown around!

TheDisneyGirl02

 

[WDWScottieBoy]

I love it when I get a good bus driver. Listening to them talk about WDW and unknown facts and just keep us entertained. It's always fun going to and from the parks with a magical trip to start or end the day with, just making WDW even better. And it proves the point of why WDW is the most magical place on Earth.

 

[niteobsrvr]

I love it when I get a good bus driver. Listening to them talk about WDW and unknown facts and just keep us entertained. It's always fun going to and from the parks with a magical trip to start or end the day with, just making WDW even better. And it proves the point of why WDW is the most magical place on Earth.

While I agree that a chatty bus driver makes the ride more magical, the traffic today actually demands that the driver pay more attention to the road and less attention to chatting over the pa system. Not to mention, it is illegal for a driver to chat while driving with the exception of the required announcements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities act.

The funny thing about all of this is that the monorails and boats in the Magic Kingdom area which have fewer things to worry about (the boats have lake patrols for assistance and the monorails shutdown if they over run a hold point or if you go too fast) as far as interacting with other traffic all have recorded announcements and/or music to play.

The bus drivers on the other hand are required to talk on the pa system as well as perform the duties of an interactive safety system (ie the only way the bus stops or makes evasive maneuvers is if the driver is paying attention).

 

[ucanfly]

The reality is most guest do not feel the bus expererience is very magical and so they are throwing idea darts in the dark trying to hit the "magic" bullseye.

Hi everyone, first post ever!
But back to the topic.. I was just thinking that disney should have different themes for each bus. Like each bus is themed after a different movie or ride, or something like that. It would probably cost a lot of $$, but ya no, just painting the outside of the bus after something like a movie or ride.. i think it would be cool!

 

[tigsmom]

Somewhere in some office of some person who has never driven a bus except in training, they have decided that the best way to create greater guest interaction is to have the driver stand outside the bus while the guests are boarding.

The reality is most guest do not feel the bus expererience is very magical and so they are throwing idea darts in the dark trying to hit the "magic" bullseye.

The concentration shouldn't be on drivers sitting in a seat or standing outside so much as the spiels delivered over the PA systems, the packing of busses with 80 guests to the point people are on top of each other, and general personality issues with some of the drivers. Standing or sitting a grumpy is still a grumpy.

The number one focus at Disney by their own words is safety but in this case they have forgotten that having a driver outside the bus creates a potentially unsafe situation. As I stated previously, these types of accidents have happened before but with the new policy the frequency will increase.

I would imagine in the case of the pictures above the driver received full blame for the accident as he or she did fail to set the brake. The contributing factor will be ignored. In all places that I have worked as a driver and in management, if the bus is running, the driver should be in the bus. Otherwise the bus should not be running.

We wont even talk about the travel time increases of the drivers getting on and off the bus all the time. SO much for great service.

Thanks for your insight. :wave:

 

[mkt]

that's funny....

I've seen worse/funnier accidents involving company vehicles though. Halloween 2002, overturned WDI GMC Jimmy in the Epcot parking lot.

 

[ACE]

Somewhere in some office of some person who has never driven a bus except in training, they have decided that the best way to create greater guest interaction is to have the driver stand outside the bus while the guests are boarding.

The reality is most guest do not feel the bus expererience is very magical and so they are throwing idea darts in the dark trying to hit the "magic" bullseye.

The concentration shouldn't be on drivers sitting in a seat or standing outside so much as the spiels delivered over the PA systems, the packing of busses with 80 guests to the point people are on top of each other, and general personality issues with some of the drivers. Standing or sitting a grumpy is still a grumpy.

The number one focus at Disney by their own words is safety but in this case they have forgotten that having a driver outside the bus creates a potentially unsafe situation. As I stated previously, these types of accidents have happened before but with the new policy the frequency will increase.

I would imagine in the case of the pictures above the driver received full blame for the accident as he or she did fail to set the brake. The contributing factor will be ignored. In all places that I have worked as a driver and in management, if the bus is running, the driver should be in the bus. Otherwise the bus should not be running.

We wont even talk about the travel time increases of the drivers getting on and off the bus all the time. SO much for great service.

I am a Safety Specialist for the Navy and while you want to talk about "contributing factors", there is still a "root cause" to the problem. The "root cause" could be a lack of proper training, it could be a failure in the "standard operating procedure" or it could be personal error.

After reading your post and due to the lack of any other evidence, I would put this down to personal error. You will also find that when OSHA investigates an accident, they really don't care about the "contributing factors" they are looking for the "root cause".

:wave: ACE

 

[wannab@dis]

OOPS!

I'm not sure that I agree that just by asking the drivers to stand outside somehow should affect safety. Nobody can enter / exit the bus until the door is open. The driver controls the timing and should set the break prior to opening the door.

If this new policy is said to be the reason for any accident, then I would say it was the driver scapegoating his responsibilities.

Also, as others have mentioned, the "chatty" drivers are awesome. We've had one driver a couple of times that does trivia during the trip. Makes it a wonderful time and keeps your mind off the tired feet!

 

[disneydummy125]

For some reason, I would prefer my drivers NOT to talk while they are driving the bus. It's a big enough thing to drive around WDW as it is, let alone having them distracted because they have to entertain the guest. Plus, there's plenty to see outside the window(i.e. park icons, hotels, etc) that seems to hold my attention until we get to the destination.

 

[no2apprentice]

Bearing in mind some of the posts that I have read about bus drivers, on our trip last month I tried to take some mental notes when we rode the buses. We used the buses 10 times. None of the drivers engaged in any talk except for their required announcements. When they did talk (on the PA), I would say I was able to understand what they were saying about 60% of the time. The other 40% was not understandable due to either the heavy accent of the driver, poor PA system, bus noise, or a combination of the three.

I, also, prefer to see the bus driver concentrating on the driving and not worry about chatting with the guests on the PA. Any distraction lowers the level of safety for the driver. And as far as the driver leaving the bus when guests get off, two things wrong with this: 1) if the driver is not at the wheel, he is not in control, and 2) if the driver exits the bus, he cannot witness or be aware of any problems guests may have while trying to exit the bus.

I hope the uppity-ups are going to realize this and recind their new policy. There are far better and safer ways to get some "magic" on the buses.

 

[Figment1986]

If only Drivers could have a recorded spiel or something like that to keep the people entertaigned...

(Good shots....)

 

[Atta83]

I thought i was going to see a really cool crash. It only looks like a fender bender........Looks like what I did to the front of my car a few ago.

 

[*MichelleP*]

If only Drivers could have a recorded spiel or something like that to keep the people entertaigned...

Good thought, Figment. Maybe somehow some of the Pal Mickey information and jokes could be broadcast while the bus is traveling...

 

[niteobsrvr]

I am a Safety Specialist for the Navy and while you want to talk about "contributing factors", there is still a "root cause" to the problem. The "root cause" could be a lack of proper training, it could be a failure in the "standard operating procedure" or it could be personal error.

After reading your post and due to the lack of any other evidence, I would put this down to personal error. You will also find that when OSHA investigates an accident, they really don't care about the "contributing factors" they are looking for the "root cause".

:wave: ACE

4 days of driving training prior to taking the cdl test. Split about 50/25/25 between learning the required pre-trip information, skills portion of the test, and open road driving. I don't exactly consider that enough for people who have never driven anything bigger than their personal vehicle or a uhaul truck.

There are a number of ways that the accident in the picture could have happened. There is no doubt that the driver is at fault for not applying the brake properly. My only thought is that if the driver is still seated behind the wheel he is more able to react effectively to remedy the situation than if he is in the process of exiting the bus.