Bad day for traffic in Dartford

Lordflashheart said:

Don't know what a bus was doing in that road - as far as I know they don't go down there - even if it was brake failure, I don't understand how it got so far unless he kept his foot on the accelerator - was the bus stolen ?

Correct. The 480 should not be on that road. This hasn't been mentioned on any of the reports that I have read so far. It normally goes around the back of the station/b&q, and turns around again to start its journey back to Gravesend. I used to use that bus all of the time.

GD78 said:

Lordflashheart said:

Don't know what a bus was doing in that road - as far as I know they don't go down there - even if it was brake failure, I don't understand how it got so far unless he kept his foot on the accelerator - was the bus stolen ?

Correct. The 480 should not be on that road. This hasn't been mentioned on any of the reports that I have read so far. It normally goes around the back of the station/b&q, and turns around again to start its journey back to Gravesend. I used to use that bus all of the time.

It may well have been on diversion due to the traffic gridlock yesterday. Still doesn't excuse going so fast along what is a 20mph road. It must have been going much faster than the speed limit to take out that many cars and cause that much damage.

Wilma said:

GD78 said:

Lordflashheart said:

Don't know what a bus was doing in that road - as far as I know they don't go down there - even if it was brake failure, I don't understand how it got so far unless he kept his foot on the accelerator - was the bus stolen ?

Correct. The 480 should not be on that road. This hasn't been mentioned on any of the reports that I have read so far. It normally goes around the back of the station/b&q, and turns around again to start its journey back to Gravesend. I used to use that bus all of the time.

It may well have been on diversion due to the traffic gridlock yesterday. Still doesn't excuse going so fast along what is a 20mph road. It must have been going much faster than the speed limit to take out that many cars and cause that much damage.

Could a bus get around that tight corner outside the Bull and Vic ?

Something very strange about all this

Apparently one of the mashed cars was ticketed this morning.....

The bus stop isn't used anymore. It used to be used for, amongst others, a short service that went up Burnham Road to the Mercedes Garage and back but it didn't last long.
As far as I know there are no buses that need to travel down Hythe Street at all, so perhaps the driver came from the Bus garage behind Mill Pond Road to start the Gravesend run and instead of turning left into Home Gardens, for some reason turned right into Westgate and had to double back by going into Kent Road and then Hythe Street.

I know Mill Pond road was flooded earlier in the day, so it is also possible that as the driver couldn't get back to the garage, so he or she did a straight turnaround and again instead of using the right turn at the lights decided to go through Dartford.

Either way, it doesn't explain why the Driver/Bus just kept on going after hitting the first car?

Footage of the incident.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-kent-44309548/cctv-of-bus-colliding-with-24-vehicles-in-dartford

That deffo looks dodgy! Traffic screwed again tonight.

I used to drive that route daily until 18 months ago. Everyone is right in saying the 480 doesn’t go down there. We were at times asked to divert round the “oneway” due to traffic under the bridge at Prospect Place. So could be a reason. I personally don’t believe brake failure. They have too many safety features. Yes these can go wrong. My honest opinion? Foot Placement error. Hitting accelator instead of the brakes. Brain doesn’t clock on to this at the time. We’re taught about this in training/cpc courses. Being a bus driver becomes rather robotic. I know this driver well. There’s always three sides to a story. His side. There side & the truth.

James86 said:

I used to drive that route daily until 18 months ago. Everyone is right in saying the 480 doesn’t go down there. We were at times asked to divert round the “oneway” due to traffic under the bridge at Prospect Place. So could be a reason. I personally don’t believe brake failure. They have too many safety features. Yes these can go wrong. My honest opinion? Foot Placement error. Hitting accelator instead of the brakes. Brain doesn’t clock on to this at the time. We’re taught about this in training/cpc courses. Being a bus driver becomes rather robotic. I know this driver well. There’s always three sides to a story. His side. There side & the truth.

So if a bus comes round that really tight bend by the Bull and Vic it's got to go really slow - add to that Dartford was in gridlock at the time anyway, the driver must have really put his foot down after getting straight for the run past the post office - cars were clearly queuing from the All Night Cars cab office at least - the bus has clearly ploughed down the middle of the two ranks of queuing cars - on the face of it there is either a malfunction of the accelerator or he lost the plot or it was deliberate

You say you know the fella - could he have lost the plot ? (serious question)

AFKABartram said:

Lordflashheart said:

James86 said:

I used to drive that route daily until 18 months ago. Everyone is right in saying the 480 doesn’t go down there. We were at times asked to divert round the “oneway” due to traffic under the bridge at Prospect Place. So could be a reason. I personally don’t believe brake failure. They have too many safety features. Yes these can go wrong. My honest opinion? Foot Placement error. Hitting accelator instead of the brakes. Brain doesn’t clock on to this at the time. We’re taught about this in training/cpc courses. Being a bus driver becomes rather robotic. I know this driver well. There’s always three sides to a story. His side. There side & the truth.

You say you know the fella - could he have lost the plot ? (serious question)

Ongoing police issue - would advise no details shared please

Good point - apologies

James86 said:

@Lordflashheart I can’t disagree with you’re saying. Mechanical things can fail without warning. I wasn’t there, I’ve asked people in the know. I won’t slate Arriva online but the standards/maintenance of vehicles in my time there was shocking. I’m interested in the findings. It was me speculating on how or why it happened. The CCTV on BBC doesn’t show the brake lights working on the bus? Which goes to your point of the malfunction in accelerator or mine with the foot placement error. Has he been slowing down to join queuing traffic but slammed on the accelator instead?
Lost the plot? No way. Awful driver? Maybe.

If you put my foot on the accelerator by mistake, you quickly realise and switch pedal.

The distance he travelled seems far too far for a quick press of the wrong pedal. He might have hit a couple of cars if he'd done that, not 20!

To me it must be
a) brake failure
b) driver illness (e.g. a heart attack)
c) deliberate driver action (whether wilful or due to some sort of mental issue)

guinnessaddick said:

It'd Friday & Dartford at a standstill.

There has been a big accident on Princes Road near the football ground.

The M25 doesn’t go to Strood. Hope that helps

apparently 3 accidents in and around the main roads of Dartford today

T'riffic

My wife’s currently stuck at Bluewater. Took our daughter to a party that finished at 5:30 and the car park was gridlocked.

Went back inside for a coffee but it’s still not moving. Someone was giving out info and there’s been an accident on the M25.