(OFF TOPIC) ADVICE NEEDED!

[turf]

I am trying to help one of my best friend who works in the Arriva bus depot in Skem, and I need advice on what to say to him. Here is the scenario:

The running time from Kirkby to Skem depot on the M58 motorway set by the bosses in Skem is a skinny 8 minutes. He was trying to do that about five weeks agao, and got caught by a marked police car doing 92mph.

He already has 9 points on his license, and says that the police are going to give him three more, meaning that he will be banned from driving his car for a year.

On top of this the police have told him that as well as his car license going, his bus license, and his job could go with it, meaning that he can never drive any bus again.

How can I support him? What are the right things to do to support him? What are the right things to say to him? I would be so grateful if anyone knows or could help.

[Antwigan]

I worked at the jobcentre for 5 years and I used to deal with people who had 20 odd points on their licence. The best was about 28!! I have heard of more. Yes they had lost their job but were still driving when having well over, what many consider the cut off point, and beyond. There is no cut off point. It is up to the courts. He needs to plea that by losing his job it would cause severe hardship upon him and his family this includes his car licence as this is required to get to work....as busses are often late!!!! May need to tweek the last bit.

[dads58]

Tell him to plead guilty, accept that his actions were foolish and he is really sorry for his speeding. They will accept no excuse, but in mitigation (theres that word again) he has to lay it on about the necessity for his license for his livelihood and his family situation. i.e the bread winner.
The magistrates will deffinately give him the 3 points but may offer a speed awareness course, in lew of the points, which I believe costs around £140.00 now.
I have known them to wave the ban on 12 points when livelihood is involved.
The general attitude of the juditiary regarding speeding is zero tolerence. Only agreement with this will win favour in their eyes. (Believe me!)

On a lighter note, you could always tell him to say he plays rugby for St. Helens, they will most probably wipe his license clean

[AndyJones]

turf posted:
The running time from Kirkby to Skem depot on the M58 motorway set by the bosses in Skem is a skinny 8 minutes. He was trying to do that about five weeks agao, and got caught by a marked police car doing 92mph.

Shouldn't have been speeding, end of. No matter how much the bosses pushed him to stick to the time its not worth the risk of:

1) His liscence.
2) His job.
3) The fine, ban etc if caught.
4) Endangering the lives of other people on the roads when he was doing those sort of speeds.

He could have been stopped for doing alot worse such as

1) Hitting a motorway road worker.
2) Hitting another car.
3) Causing a crash/pile up.

Any of those, and more could have resulted in him being stopped for alot worse. Such as death by dangerous driving.

No sympathy at all im afraid. Tell him to own up, accept the fine, point and ban.

[can i get a pioneer]

what was he driving a rocket powered bus? buses are governed and will probably not go much over 60mph for saftey and economy reasons.Vehicles are most effiecient at 56mph.
speed limit on a motorway for a bus is 60mph so that makes him 32mph over the speed limit so i've no sympathy to be honest. he/she could get away with a ban if the court takes into consideration that he/she drives for a living

[Nine]

He can only front up to the mistake he's made, admit it and offer what he can in mitigation about the need to earn a living for his family and his previous good character.

No one died this time - and that could have been the consequence of the decision he made between being slightly late and going at a such an illegal speed on the motorway in a vehicle not designed to cope with it.

We all make mistakes - for our own good we need to learn to recognise them, not hide from them and resolve to do better next time. It's a painful process at times.

There are other jobs, unemployment is still relatively low and there is plenty of help for retraining out there if the worst comes to the worst. Actually, that wouldn't be the worst - killing someone would have been the worst.

[MiThor]

speed limit on coach/buses 62mph(100kms) 20 mph over limit is an automatic ban he has no chance ,he has to accept that ,the company will be prosocuted for causing and allowing, plus for running a vehicle with no/faulty speed limiter,at that speed he deserves eveything he gets, I have been working as a driver for over 35 years, I have only had three points on my liscence in that time because I stick to the law tell your friend to try it, it works and it saves alot of stress

[Fraggle]

dads58 posted:
I have known them to wave the ban on 12 points when livelihood is involved.

If/when that happens, they usually hit you with a big fine as compensation. With all due respect, a £600-700 or more fine plus costs would be pretty hard on someone earning bus drivers' wages.

Having just been on a bus this morning with a driver who's not safe driving at 30mph, the idea of such a person driving at anything like 90mph doesn't bear thinking about.

[turf]

He was driving a company shunt vehicle not a bus. But thanks very much for all the advice/help you have given to me, it has really helped me.

I can also tell you that the situation has got worse in the past hour as my friend has just rung me up, and has said that the police have jusr rung him up today and are going to post a letter through his door.

He has also said that when it comes, that he will from then on, be banned from driving his car for a year, and a bus for life.

I can also stress than he hasn't got a mum or dad, or grandad. All he has got is a girl friend, and a huge debt, which of course he has to work for to pay off.

His mum and dad split up when he was about 15, and he hasn't seen his mum since. His dad has turned his back on him and has threatened to burn his house down - with him in it.

His grandad has turned his back on him, and had told my friend, (named Rob) that he does not want ANYTHING to do with him.

To add to all this, none of the other drivers in the depot, or the bosses will listen to him. I am the only person that will - and I don't work there.

[old hooker]

Buy him a bike.