Another email to Dublin Bus. Bus went wrong way. Yikes. Kids got off near Renault garage,

Another email to Dublin Bus.

Subject: 44 bus (one missing Thur Oct 12, wrong route Fri Oct 13)

Hello,

1. missing bus 12/10/2007

Could you find out what happened to the Enniskerry->City Centre 44 bus on 12/10/2007,
the bus that arrives at 8:10ish at Kilgobbin Road. It did not arrive.


2. wrong route 13/10/2007

The route for that bus has changed due to roadworks on the Sandyford road.
We have two children who take that bus to school. Ages 9 and 5.
The first mornings of the route changes we accompanied them on the bus to
make sure they were familiar with bus stops.
On Friday they were with another family, the eldest in the group was 12 years old, they
were not accompanied by an adult.

On Friday the 44 bus got lost and instead of turning down the Drummartin link road it
drove on into Sandyford Industrial Estate. The bus left the children off somewhere near the
Renault garage. Because they know the area they were able to make their way to school.

This is of great concern to us.
We are not sure what information the children and driver exchanged.
We know mistakes can happen but hope that if they do happen then
the safety of the children is not put at risk.

A different morning the driver did not stop at the normal school bus stop and was
unfriendly to the children. "That's not my problem!"
They were left off just down the road thankfully near a pedestrian crossing.

Many/most drivers I think do take very good care of their passengers but we are concerned
if some drivers, especially on school mornings, don't take some consideration for younger
passengers.

Does driver training include care and consideration of passengers of different abilities
and is this can be reinforced by Dublin Bus on an ongoing basis?

What would be the minimum age of children that would be expected to be travelling
unaccompanied on the bus? (for short local trip)
- Note that if we encourage more use of the bus then it is more likely that there
would be a number of children from the same school on the same bus every morning and
every child in the group is safer as a result.



I would really appreciate it if you can investigate the incidents for us and find some
information on your policies with regards training and young passengers.


Sincerely,

James.