And after 10 days of training now have a licence to drive category D. I know this is a truck forum, but I’ve been here for quite a few years and have previously driven trucks. I would have liked a C but couldn’t afford the training. I’m sure you know how it is
Trained in Walsall, tested in Wolverhampton and over the moon. Got my first day at the local depot today where I’ll be based where I’ll still be learning hard what I need to be a Bus Driver.
Trained on a 40ft long, 8ft wide, 11ft high single decker, then advanced up to a similar bus but without dual controls and with ABS, air suspension and kneeling entrance.
There are single-deckers, minibuses, double-deckers, bendi-busses (articulated) and, er, all the others. At the moment I can tell the difference between the types but, well, we’ll soon progress no doubt.
Celebrated with friends in the Pub last night and got a bit drunk, but it was only 2 pints, so I’m now good enough for work.
I am in a good mood and shall probably be in said good mood for at least a week. Got the certificates too for my CPC / PCV and no doubt they’d go on my wall. Right. Work. Cheerio for now
I’m having difficulty picturing what a bus with dual controls look like though .
Being an automatic gearbox the Instructor only needs a foot break, and that is what you can see on the floor behind the drivers seat. aka Dual Controls
bubsy06:
why do you need dual controls in a bus? thought you only need em when learning to drive for the first time
Ok. Imagine This.
An 18 year old lad, passed his test 6 months ago in a car is allowed to go out on the road in a 40ft long single decker with a 10 litre engine and an automatic gearbox. Adequetly controlled the vehicle in the depot on initial training but once on the road and turning a corner is too fast on the accellerator for the instructors liking and is going to hit something/someone. The instructer NEEDS to be able to STOP the vehicle, including just slowing it down normally.
bubsy06:
why do you need dual controls in a bus? thought you only need em when learning to drive for the first time
Ok. Imagine This.
An 18 year old lad, passed his test 6 months ago in a car is allowed to go out on the road in a 40ft long single decker with a 10 litre engine and an automatic gearbox. Adequetly controlled the vehicle in the depot on initial training but once on the road and turning a corner is too fast on the accellerator for the instructors liking and is going to hit something/someone. The instructer NEEDS to be able to STOP the vehicle, including just slowing it down normally.
and that same 18 year old will be legally allowed to do that in LGVs next year - Without dual controls fitted
Saratoga - is that a Leyland Lynx!? OMG, the most uncontrollable vehicle ever made by Leyland it’s got L-Plates plastered over it!!
Well if you can drive a Lynx then you can drive anything…thank God that they can’t take the driving test in it anymore, a lot of people must fail that!
We call the Leyland Lynx the Widow Maker, as almost everyone that drives 1 ends up going sick due to back problems!
They are impossible to run late with though, as the throttle is basically a switch…100% or Nothing! (Air-powered Throttle!).
When some Corsa driving child passes the LGV test.
Considering almost no one can get a job if they are under 25 with less than 2 years experience. ( Some even if they are over 25)
Example of average teenage Corsa driver below
1 they have no experience
2 Companies are more than likely going to refuse insurance because of age
3 At that age some insurance companies will not even insure them for a car
4 They are in the top most dangerous and vunerable drivers in the whole country
5 They have no idea about forward planning, risk assessment and speed awareness.
6 They are getting themselves killed through dangerous driving, left, right and centre.
Then what the hell is the point of them passing tests, costing thousands with no chance of a job at the end of it all. Who may I ask is going to employ them?
Well I suppose the only people/companies that would even consider employing an 18 year-old LGV driving licence holder would be those that already take part in the Youngs Drivers Scheme. Otherwise you will probably have a couple of problems to say the least!
CONGRATULATIONS Saratoga 
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