On two or three of my many recent London bus trips, I have become more
aware of the decline in the driving standards of some of the drivers.

One of the most common traits, seems to be a desire to 'shake up' the
passengers. Of course, London traffic is unpredictable, but even
given the uncertainties, (such as the other motorists who can put the
bus driver in a no-win dillema by cutting in front of the bus),
nonetheless, there seems to be a bus driver aggression, which quickly
rises and is directed at the passengers behind him/her; perhaps as the
driver has no one else to communicate his frustration to.

Here is the best example I can give you at the moment. The bus
driver, a female in this instance, was making her way along a bus lane
with stationary traffic to her right. I could see ahead that there
was a car partially blocking the lane. Instead of slowing down
appropriately, the driver went right up to the car quite quickly,
hooted several long hoots of the hooter, and then stamped her foot on
the brake, and then on and off repeatedly, so that we were all flung
back and forth violently. The car started to move partially out the
way, the bus moved forwards again .... and yes, then she stamped her
foot down on the brake heavily yet again.

By now, we were all pretty shaken, elderly and young alike - but it
didn't stop there. Because even after we had passed the obstruction,
the bus driver remained angry - someone had DARED to interfere with
her progress by 'breaking the rules of the road'. The passengers were
all quiet now. 'Mummy was angry' and someone had to be punished. For
the next 5 minutes of driving we were subjected to her rough driving,
heavy breaking and sudden dramtic stops, this continued until she had
calmed down, and then the journey became more tolerable.

After getting out, I quickly walked to the front of the bus and said
through the doors, "there was no need to do all that heavy
breaking ... there are old folk on board you know!" ......she bellowed
back, "he was in my way". In other words, she didn't deny her
aggresive driving, instead she claimed that it had been justified
because someone had 'got in her way'.

On about one third of the London buses I travel on, I sense the driver
shows very poor appreciation of either passenger comfort or of the
passenger's sense of safety. There is real aggression shown to other
motorists. 'My big vehicle can intimidate you in that small car'.

I believe the problems are linked to poor emotional regulation and
lack of genuine care for others, and in some way this mirrors the lack
of care for the drivers by large, arrogant bus companies. I have the
feeling bus accidents are quite common these days in London; if that
is true, I think I know why.

Turk182