Mum demands lower bus speeds

A Papamoa mother is mounting a campaign to get Bay Hopper buses to reduce their speeds around the suburb's streets and nearby school.

Each morning Sam Norton walks her children Lucas and Phoebe along Dickson Road to Papamoa Primary School.

Papamoa mother Sam Norton wants Bay Hopper buses to reduce their speeds around the school zone.

On the way she says she is always wary and grips her children tight as buses consistently drive over the 30km/h peak limit, reaching speeds of up to 60km/h.

Sam, who lives 150m from the school within the reduced zone and has a 40km/h sign at the end of her driveway, says buses are going above the speed limit on a daily basis and it is a miracle no one has been injured.

What makes it harder is seven-year-old Lucas is autistic and with 'a lessened sense of danger and awareness”, Sam has to keep an alert eye and tight grip on her children as the buses approach.

'The problem is that buses are public transport, they are huge vehicles and I think we should be able to expect them to be law abiding and safe.

'In a sense I feel they are setting a standard for the rest of the drivers on the road and if they can get away with it then yeah,” says Sam.

Since moving onto the road last September, attempts to have the problem addressed have been a been a constant battle with countless calls made to police, Bay Hopper and Bay of Plenty Regional Council to no avail, says Sam.

So after receiving no respite, Sam created the ‘Slow Down Bay Hopper' Facebook page – attracting more than 120 likes in 48 hours.

The mother of two says she is not fighting for the sake of her children's safety, but for the school and other community members.

And if need be she will make a submission to council in an attempt to have the issue resolved once and for all.

'We have hundreds of children walking to and from school. They are on bikes and scooters and they themselves dart across the road to see their mates.

'I would have thought that me saying ‘hey police, hey Bay Hopper' you guys are going a bit fast that would have been enough. And to hear that so many other people have complained and done the same thing it just infuriates me.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council transport policy manager Garry Maloney says council are aware of the Facebook campaign and have investigated previous complaints about the speed of buses at Papamoa.

'Bay Hopper buses must adhere to speed limits, as any other driver on the road does. We do not condone speeding or breaking of the road rules at any time,” says Garry.

'When any complaint is made to Council it is investigated. We will raise the issue with the bus operator, who will carry out an investigation and if the complaint is substantiated it becomes an employment issue between the operator and its employee.”

Garry says the buses do not currently have the technology installed to record all trip movements, such as speed and braking of buses – something council are looking at for future improvements to the bus service.

What do you think?

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17 comments

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Posted on 11-04-2014 13:40 | By NZgirl

I find Bay Hopper bus drivers to be very bad drivers. I've lost count the amount of times I have been along the side of one and they have pulled out on me. They do speed and have very little regard for other road users.


School Zone Speeds

Posted on 11-04-2014 14:00 | By Road Ranger

All vehicles need to reduce speed around School Zones only during the set hours and when the signs are flashing (not the case in photo). It's good to see Police been pro-active at the start of school term policing this but need to continue doing this randomly. Safety is paramount.


What's the Limit?

Posted on 11-04-2014 16:29 | By DanielT

I agree that nobody, especially heavy vehicles should be speeding around school. I am confused by the comment "buses consistently drive over the 30km/h peak limit, reaching speeds of up to 60km/h " The school zone limit is 40km/h, is this different for large vehicles? In what way has their actual speed been measure?


How does she know?

Posted on 11-04-2014 16:34 | By freedomkiwis

I'd love to know how this mum knows for sure these buses are doing 60km past Papamoa School. This school is situated between a speed hump and an "S" bend, then another speed hump. Perhaps that is why she has not seen any changes even after reporting it to council, police and GoBus. It would be extremely difficult to reach a speed of 60kph in that small area. I'd like to suggest that people maybe even just sit their bus license, before making exaggerated claims like this.


Rangerman

Posted on 11-04-2014 20:37 | By Ranngermann

Can this lady prove 60kph past school and on Dickson Road you cannot do this speed past school or bends due to speed bumps if this is the case which I doubt is why not see if the police can check the speed of the Buses I know for a fact this speed is not done in this area I am a Bay Hopper driver so do not judge all drivers as bad as they are very professional drivers.


Well

Posted on 11-04-2014 21:26 | By Capt_Kaveman

since they are big they appear to be going fast when they are infact not, there maybe what 60 drivers and i guess some are very good most are in the middle and some not so good, anyway thats for police and the hopper contractor to sort out, all buses no matter what urban and Nat should have the right of way to pull out within reason as they would never get anywhere thats why in some citys they have bus lanes, what i hate about dickson rd is council has put the footpath right next to the road this is a death in the waiting yip yet another council blunder


firstly....

Posted on 12-04-2014 08:57 | By NRG-TGA

Capt_Kaveman I usually enjoy your bigoted and "one eye open" rhetoric, but everything in your world seems to come back to a council decision. While I do not agree with all of their decisions I understand running a city would be a balancing act where there's always someone who isn't going to be happy. I suggest you run for council yourself because obviously you are more than qualified! I agree with Sam Norton. I also live on Dickson road and see them flying past (in fact speed in general is an issue along Dickson road). Now I'm not a mathematician by profession and I don't own a radar gun but the way I see it is if I'm doing 55kph and the bus is still pulling ahead up Dickson road then OBVIOUSLY the bus is speeding, end of story.


Speed limit before and after school

Posted on 12-04-2014 09:45 | By Johnney

Why don't we be like Western Australia where they have reduced speed limits around schools an hour before and and hour after school while the kids are around. Should also apply to outside Mt College where it was 70k until a girl was killed then reduced to 50k. This limit is now for 24/7 which has become a nice little trap and revenue earner for the police.


@ Capt Kaveman and others

Posted on 12-04-2014 12:36 | By Annalist

Fancy putting a footpath next to the road??? Quite normal I'd have thought. What is needed is careful driving, not necessarily slow driving. There is a big difference. If buses are speeding call the police and get them to to a speed check.


And then what Annalist?

Posted on 12-04-2014 12:53 | By Paul Melhuish

What do you propose happens if your suggested speed check proves the buses are in fact speeding? A warning from police will achieve little to nothing Remember also that the drivers will be on notice regarding this issue as it is now out in the public domain. They have already slowed down by my own observations on Papamoa Beach Road….but for how long?


why judge others

Posted on 12-04-2014 16:40 | By bd

why do people(@NRG-TGA)judge and blame others while they are doing 55 kph themselves in Dickson Rd. 55=speeding=ticket! Anyway, there are already frequently speed checks at different places in Tauranga. And, sorry, 60kph is not possible at that school area. Has that lady ever been on a bus over there?? Other things would be more helpful than just blaming busdrivers.


Who lets the bus pull off at bus-stops?

Posted on 12-04-2014 21:23 | By bd

Sometimes 10-20-30-40 cars are passing until one gives sign to pull out.We bus-drivers get cut and passed from many cars every day, even from trucks and in roundabouts(!!!) just to save a split of a second. Maybe 5% are bus-friendly car-/truck-drivers! Thanks to them!! You can't imagine what busdrivers see every day in cars while driving: having coffee, breakfast, eating burgers, looking after kids, having pets or children on their knees, dozens using their mobiles, making notes, brushing hair,smoking, having arm in plaster, speeding like ......, passing and cutting others, drunk-driving, rushing to school with kids. So don't complain, as bus-drivers are doing their best and are(!) role model for others: professional, experienced, focussing on driving, extremely-patient. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dads and Moms: It's only seconds for you, but huge difference for the bus. i.e.15secs at 100bus-stops a day=25min more time=lower speed.


School zone safety

Posted on 12-04-2014 22:04 | By pandabesley@xtra.co.nz

Good on you Sam for your stance. I hope that drivers in your area realise lifting their foot off the accelerator just a little can make such a difference.


Typical NZ drivers!

Posted on 15-04-2014 18:50 | By triplediamond

All NZ drivers should slow down and look ahead. Most vehicle crashes occur as a result of the driver not looking ahead far enough and driving beyond their capability.... Which is very limited! Bring in compulsory driver testing every 5 years. No pass, no drive!


Humps not for buses.

Posted on 16-04-2014 14:59 | By Paul Melhuish

For those curious about how the bus can get to the stated speed of 60km/h....the speed humps have gaps for the buses to fit through so yes they can speed through this area.


Judging speed

Posted on 24-04-2014 14:55 | By rosscoo

Cars pull out and pass buses on dickson road all the time so if bus is speeding what is that car doing. Pathetic. As for doing 60kph around pass school if bus was to do that it would probably roll as you have speed humps on corner and pedestrian hump so close together so you have know idea on how to judge speed of a vehicle


bus speeds on dickson rd

Posted on 24-04-2014 16:47 | By steveo52

sam I think u need to get of your soap box and get real,i have been driving trucks and buses for 40+ years and u cant get around there at 60km the best mabe 40km at best.sam u should go for a ride for a few hours on a bus and see what bus drivers put up with I will pay for u.


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