Post by Bearinator on Aug 17, 2007 9:22:18 GMT 10
Pete on the piss again 
- The Daily Telegraph
SYDNEY bus drivers have been caught on camera drag racing through a Western Suburbs tunnel and photographing their feats in a competition to see who can reach the highest speed.
In one incident two weeks ago - listed in a secret file documenting nearly 200 offences in a single month - a driver was recorded travelling at 75km/h in a 20km/h zone.
Security footage obtained by The Daily Telegraph shows buses speeding side-by-side down the RTA-owned Patrick St bus tunnel leading to a commuter bus stop under Westpoint shopping centre in Blacktown.
In another incident, recorded eight days ago, a pedestrian is shown running out of the way to avoid being hit by a bus careering into the tunnel from the surface road.
The hoonish behaviour appears widespread and involves drivers from Hillbus, Westbus and Busways.
Security guards at the terminal have asked police to set up radar traps. But police say they are prevented from acting because of safety issues in the tunnel.
To add insult to injury, bus unions have forced the RTA to reduce the number of speed bumps in the tunnel, claiming they were posing an occupational safety issue for drivers' backs.
According to the secret dossier, there were 196 incidents recorded in June alone, involving a range of offences by bus drivers. At least 10 official warnings have been issued, yet despite the catalogue of incidents being sent to RTA managers they have been slow to act.
A series of emails between the RTA and the bus firms, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, reveal fears over passenger and pedestrian safety.
"The RTA has experienced (in open road situations) drivers intentionally speeding to see who can get the highest number and photographing it as proof," read a July 11 email from the RTA's western Sydney regional manager Craig Murray to private operator Busways.
Busways planning manager Dave Davies responded by recommending technology be installed in the buses to slow them down.
An email to the RTA from security guards at the bus terminal warned of the problem, which has escalated since the $30 million terminal opened last year.
"I am being overwhelmed by reports of driver behaviour endangering public safety in the tunnel area," one email from a security guard to Mr Murray said.
"The behaviour includes speeding, dropping people off in pedestrian areas, smoking in a non-smoking environment, disobeying traffic signals, causing traffic congestion by using the tunnel as a parking area."
Mr Murray responded by issuing powers to the security firm.
"Until further arrangements are in place where a bus is observed speeding . . . you and security guards are required to stop and enter the bus, seek details of the driver's name and take note of the bus number," he said.
Opposition spokesman on road safety Andrew Fraser said Premier Morris Iemma "can't talk tough on hoons while turning a blind eye as the RTA tunnel in Blacktown is used as a drag racing strip for bus drivers".
- The Daily TelegraphSYDNEY bus drivers have been caught on camera drag racing through a Western Suburbs tunnel and photographing their feats in a competition to see who can reach the highest speed.
In one incident two weeks ago - listed in a secret file documenting nearly 200 offences in a single month - a driver was recorded travelling at 75km/h in a 20km/h zone.
Security footage obtained by The Daily Telegraph shows buses speeding side-by-side down the RTA-owned Patrick St bus tunnel leading to a commuter bus stop under Westpoint shopping centre in Blacktown.
In another incident, recorded eight days ago, a pedestrian is shown running out of the way to avoid being hit by a bus careering into the tunnel from the surface road.
The hoonish behaviour appears widespread and involves drivers from Hillbus, Westbus and Busways.
Security guards at the terminal have asked police to set up radar traps. But police say they are prevented from acting because of safety issues in the tunnel.
To add insult to injury, bus unions have forced the RTA to reduce the number of speed bumps in the tunnel, claiming they were posing an occupational safety issue for drivers' backs.
According to the secret dossier, there were 196 incidents recorded in June alone, involving a range of offences by bus drivers. At least 10 official warnings have been issued, yet despite the catalogue of incidents being sent to RTA managers they have been slow to act.
A series of emails between the RTA and the bus firms, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, reveal fears over passenger and pedestrian safety.
"The RTA has experienced (in open road situations) drivers intentionally speeding to see who can get the highest number and photographing it as proof," read a July 11 email from the RTA's western Sydney regional manager Craig Murray to private operator Busways.
Busways planning manager Dave Davies responded by recommending technology be installed in the buses to slow them down.
An email to the RTA from security guards at the bus terminal warned of the problem, which has escalated since the $30 million terminal opened last year.
"I am being overwhelmed by reports of driver behaviour endangering public safety in the tunnel area," one email from a security guard to Mr Murray said.
"The behaviour includes speeding, dropping people off in pedestrian areas, smoking in a non-smoking environment, disobeying traffic signals, causing traffic congestion by using the tunnel as a parking area."
Mr Murray responded by issuing powers to the security firm.
"Until further arrangements are in place where a bus is observed speeding . . . you and security guards are required to stop and enter the bus, seek details of the driver's name and take note of the bus number," he said.
Opposition spokesman on road safety Andrew Fraser said Premier Morris Iemma "can't talk tough on hoons while turning a blind eye as the RTA tunnel in Blacktown is used as a drag racing strip for bus drivers".
and a replacement bus is needed, it doesn't matter to the bus operator from Sydney Buses as we still get paid for the time we sit there. 
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