Regional bus operator, Stagecoach East Midlands, has urged passengers to make themselves visible at bus stops – particularly as the mornings and evenings become darker – to make sure that Bus Drivers can see them.
As Catch the Bus Month comes to an end, Managing Director, Matt Cranwell, urged passengers to “give drivers a helping hand” by lighting up their phone screen at the stop so they can be seen from a distance. At this time of year, being visible is essential to ensure that boarding can take place as quickly and safely as possible, so, in addition to wearing bright clothing, Matt gave four points to remember:
- Shine your screen – wake up your phone and show a bright screen toward the oncoming traffic.
- Avoid torches – do not use a bright flashlight or torch feature, as it can blind or distract the driver.
- Aim low – point the screen light downward toward the road rather than straight at the driver’s eyes.
- Stand to be seen – stand back from the edge of the pavement and stick your arm out, holding your phone
He added: “In the busy and dynamic regions that we serve, it is often not straightforward for a Driver to see who is waiting at a stop for the bus, or just standing close to it, and, of course, they do not want to delay their other passengers by stopping unnecessarily.
“We train our Drivers to use their observation skills as best as possible but, particularly as the mornings and evenings become darker, they will pay even more attention to help people to board safely, but we would ask our loyal customers to also do what they can to be seen.”
