CHILD SAFETY FEARS - 17th Dec 2008 11:22pm
A BUS driver claims he’s been ordered to refuse rides to Wirral schoolchildren who have lost their fare home - or risk facing the sack.
He fears the result of measures being enforced on independent bus companies by regulators Merseytravel could ultimately put kids’ lives at risk - and leave drivers to blame.
Merseytravel insist there has been “no policy change”.
But drivers have been told in a letter seen by the Globe they face £100 fines or even being fired if inspectors catch them carrying children with no fare.
The Globe was contacted by the driver, who works for a Birkenhead-based bus company, after he was issued with a company letter that referred to Merseytravel’s “revenue protection” report stating that drivers caught carrying passengers without tickets would be subject to formal disciplinary action.
Issued in September, the letter adds that because of an alleged change in Merseytravel policy schoolchildren would “not be allowed on board without the correct fare”.
The driver, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “It’s always been left up to the bus drivers’ discretion to bail out children who have got no fare to get home from school.
“Merseytravel has now decided that no child or adult will be allowed on the bus without a valid ticket and this is going to mean one of three things.
“Either drivers phone up the parents and ask them to pay at the bus stop and we’ll issue a ticket. Or the bus driver will have to pay for the ticket or, thirdly, the bus driver leaves that child.
“But schoolchildren are notorious for losing money. Our first priority surely has to be getting them home safe, and worrying about the money afterwards?”
A spokesman for Merseytravel said: “It has never been the policy of Merseytravel to leave children without the correct fare stranded.
“There has been no change in policy. We do, however, encourage schools to deal with this problem through the relevant school travel plans.
“One suggestion is that schools could establish a small cash float to provide emergency loans to children.
“Similarly promoting the use of pre-paid tickets would also assist with this problem.
“On the question of drivers not issuing a valid ticket, disciplinary is a matter for the bus operator. We report any incidents discovered by our revenue protection team to the operator.”
The independent bus company, however, told the Globe that they are bound by Merseytravel policy not to let passengers on without paying the fare - and risk fines of £100 and losing their contract if caught by inspectors.
The worried driver added: “You can just imagine if you leave a child at Arrowe Park who has to get to West Kirby, it could turn a 15-minute bus journey into a two-hour hike, through some unlit parts. Schoolkids are notorious for losing money.
“Bus drivers are going to be made to look like the bad people in this. But we’re not.
"The reason why no-one has said anything about this is that employees are frightened of Merseytravel and fearful of being hounded out of their jobs if they do so. If we are found letting kids on the bus without them paying, we could face the sack. What do we do?
"Do we allow kids on the bus and say get your parents to pay when you get to the stop. You can’t, because there’s no guarantee they will meet us there.
"On the other hand, do you let kids walk home long distances in the dark.”
He fears the result of measures being enforced on independent bus companies by regulators Merseytravel could ultimately put kids’ lives at risk - and leave drivers to blame.
Merseytravel insist there has been “no policy change”.
But drivers have been told in a letter seen by the Globe they face £100 fines or even being fired if inspectors catch them carrying children with no fare.
The Globe was contacted by the driver, who works for a Birkenhead-based bus company, after he was issued with a company letter that referred to Merseytravel’s “revenue protection” report stating that drivers caught carrying passengers without tickets would be subject to formal disciplinary action.
Issued in September, the letter adds that because of an alleged change in Merseytravel policy schoolchildren would “not be allowed on board without the correct fare”.
The driver, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “It’s always been left up to the bus drivers’ discretion to bail out children who have got no fare to get home from school.
“Merseytravel has now decided that no child or adult will be allowed on the bus without a valid ticket and this is going to mean one of three things.
“Either drivers phone up the parents and ask them to pay at the bus stop and we’ll issue a ticket. Or the bus driver will have to pay for the ticket or, thirdly, the bus driver leaves that child.
“But schoolchildren are notorious for losing money. Our first priority surely has to be getting them home safe, and worrying about the money afterwards?”
A spokesman for Merseytravel said: “It has never been the policy of Merseytravel to leave children without the correct fare stranded.
“There has been no change in policy. We do, however, encourage schools to deal with this problem through the relevant school travel plans.
“One suggestion is that schools could establish a small cash float to provide emergency loans to children.
“Similarly promoting the use of pre-paid tickets would also assist with this problem.
“On the question of drivers not issuing a valid ticket, disciplinary is a matter for the bus operator. We report any incidents discovered by our revenue protection team to the operator.”
The independent bus company, however, told the Globe that they are bound by Merseytravel policy not to let passengers on without paying the fare - and risk fines of £100 and losing their contract if caught by inspectors.
The worried driver added: “You can just imagine if you leave a child at Arrowe Park who has to get to West Kirby, it could turn a 15-minute bus journey into a two-hour hike, through some unlit parts. Schoolkids are notorious for losing money.
“Bus drivers are going to be made to look like the bad people in this. But we’re not.
"The reason why no-one has said anything about this is that employees are frightened of Merseytravel and fearful of being hounded out of their jobs if they do so. If we are found letting kids on the bus without them paying, we could face the sack. What do we do?
"Do we allow kids on the bus and say get your parents to pay when you get to the stop. You can’t, because there’s no guarantee they will meet us there.
"On the other hand, do you let kids walk home long distances in the dark.”
