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Away supporters by coach! unbelievable



Muzzy

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2011
4,787
Lewes
The coach driver who took a toilet break as he travelled at 60mph on dual carriageway
Second driver took his seat as he held onto the wheel
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:30 PM on 8th August 2011

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A coach driver got out of his seat to use the toilet while travelling along a dual carriageway at 60mph, it has emerged.
Passengers say the 50-seat vehicle lurched violently and bags were thrown from the racks when the driver got up while still holding the wheel on the A34 en route from Portsmouth to Middlesbrough.
Another driver quickly slipped into the empty seat and took control of the coach while his colleague went to use the coach's toilet.

Horror: Coach passengers aboard a Vision Travel coach like this couldn't believe their eyes when their driver got up to use the toilet at 60mph
The coach was taking Portsmouth FC football fans to their first game of the season on Saturday when when the incident happened around 90 minutes into the journey.
One fan, Paul Smith, 54, of Waterlooville, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, said he was horrified when he realised what was going on.

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He said: 'It's the sort of stunt you'd expect Indiana Jones or James Bond to pull off but not your coach driver on the way to a Portsmouth away game.
'I was listening to my iPod just before 8am when suddenly we violently lurched across the lanes.
'Stuff was falling out from the overhead racks and then we lurched back again.
'I just thought "What the hell is going on?".
'Then, remarkably, the guy who had been driving the coach was walking down the aisle to use the toilet at the back of the coach.
'Reality quickly sunk in. They had switched coach drivers while we were doing 60mph along the motorway.
'It certainly made the old heart beat faster for a few minutes.'
Another fan, 15-year-old Paul Fletcher, who was sitting behind the driver when the coach lurched, said: 'It was really, really scary.
'We could see what the drivers were about to do but we couldn't believe they were doing it.
'Some people were really upset, everything was falling down around us. It was absolutely horrible.'
The coach operator Vision Travel, which is Portsmouth's official travel partner, sent another driver to meet the coach at the stadium and immediately suspended the two drivers involved.

Away match: The vehicle was taking Portsmouth FC fans to their first game of the season at Middlesborough
Owner Peter Sharpe said a full investigation will take place which will call on both drivers and stewards on the coach to explain what happened.
He said: 'I know one of the guys was sick because he had been very poorly all day.
'We sent up another driver but I still do not know exactly what happened.
'The passengers were shaken up apparently but until I know exactly what happened I cannot really comment.'
The company's transport manager, Trevor Byng, said: 'Passengers' safety is always our priority.
'We are talking about people's lives here. We take the allegations very seriously and have launched an investigation into what happened.
'Somebody who was in contact with passengers on the coach told us there had been an incident. We immediately suspended the drivers and sent a replacement driver to bring the coach back.
'We will interview the drivers and stewards today to try to establish what happened.

Probe: Coach operator Vision Travel say there will be a full investigation into the incident
'We still are not 100 per cent sure of the circumstances and will only be able to comment further when things are clearer.'
Portsmouth's operation's manager, Derek Stone, today said the club had asked police to investigate the matter.
He said: 'We have been made aware by our supporters of their obvious concerns following the incident.
'Given the seriousness, we have asked Hampshire Constabulary to make sure it's formally investigated.
'We want to make sure nothing like this is repeated.
'Vision Travel is our official away travel coach company. They are taking positive steps to deal with this issue.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023730/Passengers-terrified-coach-driver-swaps-toilet--travelled-motorway-60mph.html#ixzz1UWmRh2Wk
 










Muzzy

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2011
4,787
Lewes
I drive coaches for a living and have heard that this was common practise in years gone by! I also have contacts at a nearby company to this one and heard this story was indeed a fact!

Very serious consequences avoided on this occasion, luckily... The driver/s will have the book thrown at them if found guilty and rightly so..... How stupid can they be?
 








Feb 24, 2011
2,843
Upper Bevendean
Wankers. Putting peoples lives at risk like that is nothing short of incredible. They both should have ALL of their licences revoked, not just their PSV (which I also hold) and then more punishment on top.
 


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