Reversing buses are too dangerous, claims driver

by Lucy Buckland

A bus operator has been branded dangerous and stupid by one of its own drivers after ordering staff to reverse in a residential street.

Arriva drivers have been told they must back up to avoid driving over a patch of land known as the rose garden in Lacey Drive, Old Coulsdon.

It follows scores of complaints from residents who say "lazy" drivers were using the green patch as a short cut.

After the Advertiser published pictures of a bus on the rose garden, at the junction of Lacey Drive and Forge Avenue, all staff were told to use "any skills they had" including reversing, not to drive over it.

But a senior member of Arriva staff contacted the Advertiser after warning bosses that reversing in a residential street could cause a serious accident.

The bus driver, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Arriva previously told staff they needed another worker nearby when reversing to make sure it was safe – a claim Arriva denies.

The bus driver said: "We were told not to trample this rose garden and younger inexperienced drivers will reverse to avoid it. Reversing is extremely dangerous and stupid especially in a residential area.

"All you need is a granny to come out of her door and not to look where she is going or a young driver to not check his mirror and smack, there is an accident. We were always told don't reverse unless there is an official watching for safety."

People living along Lacey Drive petitioned for the bus stop to be moved and the bus driver said that some were taking matters into their own hands by deliberately parking cars in the way of the bus – making it more difficult for drivers to get along the road.

Arriva stressed reversing was allowed – despite the bus company scrapping routes in Shropshire which were deemed too dangerous for drivers to negotiate as they would need to reverse.

Arthur Davy, who lives along Lacey Drive, said the damage the bus drivers had done to the rose garden was unacceptable and agreed with Arriva that reversing was a sensible option.

He said: "They [the bus drivers] cover the road with mud and churn up the roses. It is completely unacceptable.

"A small amount of common sense would mean the drivers could negotiate the rose garden but if they need to reverse then they should be careful. It is just not right for them to be driving over this rose garden."

The buses using the road cater for students from the nearby Oasis Academy. A spokesman for Transport for London, which contracts the route out to Arriva, reiterated the bus operator had agreed to pay for the damage, as reported in last week's Advertiser.

He said: "We share residents' concerns about the damage caused to the green space. The bus operating company concerned, Arriva, has agreed to pay for the costs of repairing the damage.

"Arriva has also instructed drivers to take care when negotiating this part of the route."