Bus RLJ... and a classic reason

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I've just trawled through my email from when I was away and found the email from YouTube, so I retract the statement about them not contacting me (I was expecting a message *within* my account).... interestingly I also found some YouTube notifications from when people posted comments on that video. The comments cannot now be seen, but are included in the auto-emails..... here they are for your shock/amusement...

1. TheProdriver has made a comment on "Blatant Bus RLJ... but with explanation":
and cyclists never jump red lights or do whatever it takes to get passed vehicles(go down the footpath and then back on the road)

<yawn> Yeah yeah, whatever... Ooohh, here's the interesting one....

2. The driver (arrivabusdriver123) posts his threat to me as a comment on the video, as well as sending it via PM (or whatever YouTube call it).

and then adds a further comment...

3. arrivabusdriver123 ...
The exact reason this was done was due to a lack of concentration and once i'd realised the lights were going red and there was passengers stood up on my bus, the best option was to run it. the bus weighs 9.5 tonnes and cannot stop on a 6pence. and even if it did what happens to the two old dears when i slam the anchors on? through the windscreen? not if i can help it!!!!



So he wasn't concentrating (by his own admission) but still managed to notice that 2 old dears were (sorry, "was") standing up ready to get off at the next stop... convincing stuff....

but then it gets better... a work colleague (presumably) chips in to say:

4. 1aj1234 ....
There's no excuse for it. Unlucky Chris - we've all done it, just not been caught on camera!!

Arriva have some staffing issues it seems!

But to top it off someone else sides with the hard done by driver (and proceeds to post on some of my other vids too)

5. bacarre ...
I feel sorry for u, u spend your trip to work looking for the worst in people, or perhaps u have a fixation on your mates arse?. I suggest you check out stopping distances for heavy vehicles, rule of thumb being if you havent applied the brake before the white arrow then you havent got time to stop. My husband was threatened with violence by a cyclist for stopping legally at a bus stop in a bus lane so the cyclist had to stop too,it was caught on cctv, but laws prevent its use for entertainment.

Classic stuff.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Oh I think a note to the bus company would be in order... Not only did the driver do a seriously bad bit of driving, now he's threatening you online.

I have contacted them Waffles. I got a standard response from someone saying "sorry about any inconvenience and that my message would be forwarded to relevant person"... blah, blah. I think that something must have happened though for the driver to become aware of the video (he only joined YouTube after the date of the video) and to start him contacing YouTube to get the video removed (which has happened - I've emailed YouTube to ask why it has been taken down and quoted what I can find about it being in the public domain/interest to include the chap and his comments, thus not needing his consent)... I'll email them again directly to ask where they are up to with their investigation as the 10 days quoted has now passed.

 

[magnatom]

Basically, when helmet camera filming and posting to youtube we are exempt from the data protection act under the recreational use, exclusion. If you want a copy of the actual correspondance I have PM me and will will forward it in to you.

Youtube are however, very conservative and will remove a video where they have any doubt, right or wrong.

 

[wafflycat]

I have contacted them Waffles. I got a standard response from someone saying "sorry about any inconvenience and that my message would be forwarded to relevant person"... blah, blah. I think that something must have happened though for the driver to become aware of the video (he only joined YouTube after the date of the video) and to start him contacing YouTube to get the video removed (which has happened - I've emailed YouTube to ask why it has been taken down and quoted what I can find about it being in the public domain/interest to include the chap and his comments, thus not needing his consent)... I'll email them again directly to ask where they are up to with their investigation as the 10 days quoted has now passed.

Oh I think further correspondence to the bus company is definitely in order. One of their employees has effectively threatened you. Not on. Very, very bad PR for the company.

 

[Tharg2007]

haha, i think he might try to squash us next time he sees us sharky

as far as old dears are concerned there were no standiing passengers as far as I can remember and also the next stop is quite a bit further down the road. Also the speed he hurtled past the lights and the bend in the road would have thrown any old dears off their seats and into the isle for sure.

Lets face it, the driver is/was an arse and hes trying everything he can to make excuses, get out of it, lie, slither etc. He would have been better off goinbg on youtube and just coming clean.

I think a message to the transport police would be better at this stage as the bus company dont give a hoot.

 

[Tharg2007]

or use vimeo or another video site

 

[semislickstick]

Do you know what the actual objection was?

Upload it again and add the bumpf about filming recreationally in public etc etc.
Can you object to your face being identifiable on youtube and the like? (I imagine his work mates will still know that its him if you fuzz his face out....though I don't know how you do that without expensive editing software)
If he's still being threatening in private messages, why not, just for fun add a few 'bleeps' over the top like he is swearing at you. (imply it, don't write that he was) ;-)

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Semi, the objection is just stated as having "violated their Terms of Use" - presumably on the grounds of Privacy (for the driver)... and his PM to me seems to back this up.



Had to laugh today... he's commented on one of my other videos now... the one where I realise I'm in the wrong lane and have to cross three lanes of traffic to get to a filter lane in the fourth... his comment is:

"what a plank!!!! and you had the cheek to have a go at me for skipping a red light!!!!! tosser!!!!"

to which I have replied:

"Hmmm, you jump a red light in a bus almost 5 seconds after it changes... and I keep up with traffic, signal my intentions and safely cross three lanes of traffic to get through a green light in lane four, but a tad closer to the light than I would have liked.... and yet it's *me* that's the tosser? Interesting."

I wonder what he'll respond with... I know, it's cruel to play with these people, but it amuses me.

 

[thomas]

"what a plank!!!! and you had the cheek to have a go at me for skipping a red light!!!!! tosser!!!!"

to which I have replied:

"Hmmm, you jump a red light in a bus almost 5 seconds after it changes... and I keep up with traffic, signal my intentions and safely cross three lanes of traffic to get through a green light in lane four, but a tad closer to the light than I would have liked.... and yet it's *me* that's the tosser? Interesting."

I wonder what he'll respond with... I know, it's cruel to play with these people, but it amuses me.

How come none of the people I've posted on youtube have found the video and started threatening me .


The driver is right about CCTV law though...but helmet/action cameras are not CCTV and you're not on private property.

It is no different to making a home movie/taking holiday photos. All allowed.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

linky?...

Here.

 

[wafflycat]

So now he's following you around via your vids on YouTube? And he admits he jumped a red light.. and he's using his company name as his nick? Oh dear. Does his employer know all of this?

 

[bonj2]

Interesting... I've been away for a week and have returned to find that the video has been removed with a link saying Rejected (content inappropriate), along with a message via YouTube from the driver concerned. I paste its contents here, presumably I am not contravening any laws by doing this:

"i'm the driver in question sh4rkybloke. I suggest you look into the law about cctv and camera footage pal. like the controlled viewing laws and data protection act. i suggest you take this off youtube before you get a summons to court on your door mat."

Seems all rather threatening to me... anyone have any views/ideas about the legality of the video. AFAIK it is totally legitimate and not in contravention to any data protection (there's no address details or names used etc.) and I am perfectly within my rights to film on the streets.

Thoughts?

Also, as an aside, I got no message from YouTube despite it saying in their T&C about them emailing me giving me a chance to alter the video if anyone complains and they feel that an argument is valid.

DPA nothing to do with it.
He's just hoping it's against the law. It's not.
youtube are just being paranoid, such as is probably their policy.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

So now he's following you around via your vids on YouTube? And he admits he jumped a red light.. and he's using his company name as his nick? Oh dear. Does his employer know all of this?

I finally received an email from his Employer... looks like the usual fob off to me:

----------

Dear Mr Sh4rky*

Thank you for your email to our Customer Services Department regarding the standard of driving of the driver on Service 16 on 16 July at the junction of Edge Lane/Wilbraham Road. May I firstly apologise for the delay in replying to you.

The safety of our customers and other road users is of paramount importance and any incident of this nature is treated very seriously. The Operations Manager responsible for this service has investigated your comments and please be assured that appropriate action has been taken with the driver concerned; he will also be monitored closely in future.

We can only offer our sincere apologies for any upset or inconvenience that may have been caused and thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

If you wish to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Services Department at customer.services@arrivanw.co.uk or on 0844 800 44 11.

Yours sincerely

M. Smethurst (Mr)
Customer Services Department

----------

I am tempted to email and ask specifically what action has been taken, and to mention that the idiot himself admitted to not concentrating etc. but am in two minds about whether it's worth the effort.

Thoughts?



* I changed that bit.. I know, you wouldn't have thought it.

 

[wafflycat]

Wot... you mean your real name isn't Sh4rky? Good grief!

You know my thoughts... the guy should be chased up via his employer, with pointing out in the follow-up that he is using his employer's name when he is being abusive to you..

 

[thomas]

We can only offer our sincere apologies for any upset or inconvenience that may have been caused and thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

It's a fob off, but even if you chase it up I doubt they will do anything. Just another fob off.

Now their response should be something like this

He does recall the incident and fully acknowledged that it was his fault......That aside, there are no excuses and he has been suitably admonished and will take greater care in future.

That's an edited version of an email I got from a taxi firm.

Even if admonished just means he is warned about it I am happy. It'll make him think next time...bus companies probably don't even speak to the drivers.