Are You Working Too Hard?

Are You Working Too Hard?

Driving is more like swimming with the current and less like jumping hurdles.

When going through the streets of San Francisco, training new Bus Drivers, I sometimes have to remind them not to work too hard. Say there is a car up ahead slowing down. Most new drivers begin to look for a way around such car, sometimes going through great lengths to switch lanes, only to have to switch lanes back. Not only does this takes a lot of effort, work, and maneuverability it can also create new hazards. Many times, all of this work is unnecessary because such car is only stopping for a moment. If the bus operator simply waits, they will find that the car and traffic will move on their own.

But what if it doesn’t? Whenever there is a car that is truly stopped, and is not moving, the flow of traffic will naturally slow. At that point, it is up to the driver to safely maneuver around a traffic situation - which is a completely different skill than “quickly” going around a slow or stopped vehicle.

This post is one of ten of a series called #BusDriver I orignally wrote and posted on Linkedin.
I have worked as a bus driver and transit supervisor in San Francisco for over 25 years.