This Thursday I was forced to take the bus to take Sebastian into town to see the Pantomime with pre-school as Hubby’s car was in the garage being serviced and he had taken my car into work.
Sebastian was very excited about taking the bus as he always stops to wave to them when he sees them coming and I thought it would be a nice adventure for him.
The journey started well, he was a good boy and sat still watching out the window although being 2 he stubbornly refused to let me hold him. I forgot how long the normal 20 minute journey takes into town takes on a bus which seemed to stop at every single bus stop on the route and he started to get a bid fidgety half an hour in.
As the journey progressed the bus drivers driving seemed to get more erratic. The back wheel clipped the kerb and he seemed to like his brakes a bit much but I didn’t think anything of it until he slammed on his brakes and Sebby went flying off his seat. Sadly my reactions weren’t quick enough and although I did catch him, he landed head first on the floor letting out a pained scream with a big bruise by his eye already visible.
My focus was trying to calm Sebastian down but I was absolutely livid. I am sure the bus driver genuinely had to stop suddenly and it was not his fault but it did make me think that buses are not safe for young children – after all, we have to buy expensive car seats to keep them safe when we drive in the car so why don’t buses provide seat belts as standard?
The bus we were in was a modern new one, with lots of legroom which I think was the reason Sebby hit the floor. The second bus we caught was older and he would have hit the soft chair in front if the same incident happened again but I was still nervous for the whole journey.
Some coaches now have seat belts so why do buses not have them too?
Poor Sebby, I hope he is ok. We have had a similar incident on a bus as our kids get excited about bus rides too. BB hit his head on the seat in front when the driver braked hard. It doesn’t make sense to not have seatbelts does it.
I definitely think they should have seat belts. i hope Sebby is ok. xx
oh no I hope he is ok, and you too of course. I think all buses should have seat belts. We have the stagecoach service in our area and all their buses have seat belts but the First bus services have none.
I’ve always thought it was quite bizarre that buses have no seat belts when it is illegal not to wear one in a car (and for very good reasons). Three years ago a bus missed its turning and forced its way down the wrong side of the road and ended up smashing the back of my car. It didn’t stop and kept on driving! Despite having passengers on board the police weren’t even bothered!
I often think this, even when its just me travelling on them.
Oh poor Sebby. I hate traveling on buses. This is one of the reasons. I think that all public transport should have seatbelts.
I completely agree – I hate travelling on buses now because you get jerked about all over the place!
I definitely agree with this – we catch a lot of buses and have had a number of incidents like this. I think they’re realy unsafe for kids. It’s really odd that thye don’t have seatbelts fitted. I hope Sebby was ok.