Jail sentence for bus driver who fell asleep

[Voodooman]

On 8/24/2022 at 8:37 PM, Lala81 said:

https://mothership.sg/2022/08/bus-captain-sleep-crash-jailed-yishun/

I find it kind of harsh to jail someone who's a shift worker for falling asleep on the road. 

While he is 100% to blame, I'm not sure I agree with a jail sentence for a mistake. Albeit it was pure luck, no one died or got badly hurt. 

A 9 hour minimum break. They have to drop the bus off at depot usually? Then take the shuttle back to mrt/pick up point. Then take public transport back to their own home. I mean unless they own scooters, the transit time alone is how long. Then waking up at 330 am to be in time to reach work by 530 am. That's if u work like a robot and do nothing else, a person still had family commitments etc. 

For us, we have no reason to fall asleep cos we can always plan our journeys or stop whenever we want to. 

Recently the airplane Ethiopian airlines case also. But at least that had two pilots. 

But come down to it, its a lapse caused by whatever situation. Whether a cockroach fell into your face, or u dropped hot coffee onto your crotch... 

Agree, 9 hours break with transport to and fro, meals and pang sai time barely enough to catch sufficient sleep and when you are in your 40s, you just don't doze off that fast.

SBS should be more humane.

Edited August 26, 2022 by Voodooman

[Confusedboi]

In my opinion, There should be minimum of 12 hours in between shifts to allow adequate rest times.. 

[Benarsenal]

End work 10pm and start again at 530am is far too little time to rest la.

The bus company is not blameless in this. Need to seriously review their working arrangements for workers.

[inlinesix]

Looking at the long working hours.

Could it be lack of available drivers?
Who want to drive bus?
5:30am to 10pm

[Jamesc]

He should have been a pilot.

Keep his job and no jail time.

Edited August 26, 2022 by Jamesc

[Mustank]

[13177]

37 minutes ago, inlinesix said:

Looking at the long working hours.

Could it be lack of available drivers?
Who want to drive bus?
5:30am to 10pm

5.30am to 10pm? This is more than 12 hours le?! No wonder not enough sleep.

[inlinesix]

8 minutes ago, 13177 said:

5.30am to 10pm? This is more than 12 hours le?! No wonder not enough sleep.

Usually there is monthly OT hour cap.

Beside that, drivers don’t cross drive other routes.

Once there is shortage of drivers in 1 route, all drivers on that route suffers.

There was 1 AMDK Bus Co tried to change that.

In the end, give up due to high resignation rate.

 

[13177]

11 minutes ago, inlinesix said:

Usually there is monthly OT hour cap.

Beside that, drivers don’t cross drive other routes.

Once there is shortage of drivers in 1 route, all drivers on that route suffers.

There was 1 AMDK Bus Co tried to change that.

In the end, give up due to high resignation rate.

 

Esp now with covid, it is common to have shortage of drivers.

[inlinesix]

1 minute ago, 13177 said:

Esp now with covid, it is common to have shortage of drivers.

Before border opens, it is ok to have lesser drivers.

Buses ran at a lower than frequency than usual.

Now, sure gg 1

[Sdf4786k]

On 8/24/2022 at 9:29 PM, Tianmo said:

I think the bus captain is charge base on the accident he created, how much damage done and number of casualties from the accident. He would properly get the same charge if he crush while awake. 

Anyway, our main bus operator here is not well know as a caring employer, they are better know for always trying to create profit for stake holders. 

My SIL worked as a SBS bus driver for a few months, gave up without a 2nd thought.

 

In that case, the ceo should also be fined for not putting a policy in place of hours the driver was awake and the amount of time the driver works .

an accident has happened and if it’s serious enough to warrant a jailed sentence, I believe more can be done to make the ride safer for everyone 

[Tianmo]

4 hours ago, 13177 said:

Esp now with covid, it is common to have shortage of drivers.

Even before covid also you can see sbs always hiring, their drivers turn over rate I believe is very high, even with the bringing in of PRC drivers didn't help much. 

Maybe someone there need to relook into the whole employment environment and how to retain drivers, which could also lead to savings on hiring advertising dollars. 

 

[Babyckh]

8 hours ago, 13177 said:

5.30am to 10pm? This is more than 12 hours le?! No wonder not enough sleep.

I believed the BC was doing split shift. It's the most unpopular shift in the bus industry.

Company bus will pick the BCs at their designated pickup point around 4am.

Have to be in the Interchange by 5+am, depends on what duty he is doing on that day. 

Usually finished the morning round of duty around 9 to 10 am. 

Then drive the bus back to depot and have lunch and nap for 2-3 hours.

Afternoon round of duty will start from 3pm to usually 7.30/8pm. 

Drive the bus back to depot for washing and parking.

Wait for company bus to send to the nearest MRT or walk to the nearest bus stop, depends on where is the depot situated.

Usually reach home around 9-10pm, have a shower and dinner. 

If he is faster enough, he will sleep around 10.30pm

Have to wake up by 3am to clean up and breakfast. 

Rinse and repeat. 

Technically he have more than 8 hrs of sleep but it's 3 hrs in the noon time and 5 hrs at night.

 

 

 

[Babyckh]

On 8/24/2022 at 9:45 PM, Tianmo said:

I once had a big fight with one industry line sbs bus driver in jurong industry area. 

I had sent in my car to the WS for repair, and walked out to the bus stop to take a bus to the interchange. When the bus arrived, I wanted to check and be sure the bus goes to the interchange. So with one foot on the step and the other on the ground, I asked the driver if this bus goes to the interchange. Without answering me, he shouted "you want come up or not", and started driving off slowly. I jumped onto the bus and almost hammered him, and the worse part was, his eyes were red, and smell of alcohol. My experience told me he was drinking the whole night and came to work straight. 

Before I moved to the back, i told him I going to report him for drunk driving when we reach, and told him his eyes were red and smell of alcohol.  After less than 1 min, he stopped the bus and came over to be with an apologize asking for a chance, I told him you don't sorry me, you go sorry to SBS later. 

 

This must had happened many moons ago.

Nowadays, the bus will not move if the front door is open.

[Tianmo]

23 minutes ago, Babyckh said:

This must had happened many moons ago.

Nowadays, the bus will not move if the front door is open.

Yes, you are right. 

I think something like 7-8 years ago, or might be longer. 

 

[13177]

5 hours ago, Tianmo said:

Even before covid also you can see sbs always hiring, their drivers turn over rate I believe is very high, even with the bringing in of PRC drivers didn't help much. 

Maybe someone there need to relook into the whole employment environment and how to retain drivers, which could also lead to savings on hiring advertising dollars. 

 

I think not many people want to be bus driver la, esp this type driving a public bus. Working hours is long, break is short, have to meet the tight bus schedule, driving long  bus route, deal with bad passengers, endure bad road traffic etc. Very drain out your physical and mental strength. No matter how much is the salary also not easy to earn. 😅

[13177]

1 hour ago, Babyckh said:

I believed the BC was doing split shift. It's the most unpopular shift in the bus industry.

Company bus will pick the BCs at their designated pickup point around 4am.

Have to be in the Interchange by 5+am, depends on what duty he is doing on that day. 

Usually finished the morning round of duty around 9 to 10 am. 

Then drive the bus back to depot and have lunch and nap for 2-3 hours.

Afternoon round of duty will start from 3pm to usually 7.30/8pm. 

Drive the bus back to depot for washing and parking.

Wait for company bus to send to the nearest MRT or walk to the nearest bus stop, depends on where is the depot situated.

Usually reach home around 9-10pm, have a shower and dinner. 

If he is faster enough, he will sleep around 10.30pm

Have to wake up by 3am to clean up and breakfast. 

Rinse and repeat. 

Technically he have more than 8 hrs of sleep but it's 3 hrs in the noon time and 5 hrs at night.

Never know got such type of working arrangement?! Lol. The 3 hours of nap in the afternoon dont think can allow the person able to get a good sleep lo. Esp driving a bus not so easy, since the person needs to be alert and energy, the 3 hours not enough.

Edited August 26, 2022 by 13177

[Babyckh]

@13177 

Split shift is to cater for morning and evening peak hours. It happens in the F&B industry as well.

The split shift allowance is quite pathetic though. $10~$12/day.