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.