I’ve been compiling the evidence for this next entry for some time now. Have you ever noticed certain rules of the road that exist for only bus drivers?
Bus drivers go out of their way to give other bus drivers the right of way. Without fail, a bus driver will stop for inordinate amounts of time to allow another bus they’ve glimpsed from the corner of their eye the right of way. A solemn nod or a stiff wave is the usual reward for this sacrifice. The unwritten code is so ingrained in a bus driver’s head that he or she will defy the normal laws of the road and assume that an oncoming bus driver will similarly adhere to the bus driver’s code and give up the right of way. In this way, a bus driver will often make a wide turn into the path of an oncoming bus, assuming that this is a safe maneuver. While this maneuver may seem unremarkable to seasoned passengers such as myself, I have witnessed less experienced riders’ initial shock and subsequent confusion. It’s only with keen observational skills combined with hands on research that a passenger will begin to understand the bus driver was simply following the unwritten code. In one last, yet compelling, example, allow me to bring your attention to this situation: two buses, a tight corner, heavy morning traffic. One might think it is each person for themselves in these circumstances. But there is the code. I was fortunate to witness the following events: as one bus turned up the road the other bus was coming down (crossing traffic in the process) it HESITATED for a few, but timely, seconds, blocking oncoming traffic and IN SUCH giving the second bus the chance to pull out. This was my moment of enlightenment, absolute proof in the unwritten bus driver’s code.
As an after note, you may sometimes notice the driver’s of pick-up trucks attempt to follow the unwritten bus driver’s code. While bus driver’s do take advantage of this phenomenon, instead of a solemn nod or a stiff wave, they instead deliver a bemused grin with a long-suffering shake of the head. Seasoned passengers such as myself also find it hard to hold back a grin at this attempt of inclusion.
I’ll keep you updated if I uncover any more secrets of the unwritten bus driver’s code.
