Friday Aug 17 09:39 AEST

The NSW government is investigating reports bus drivers have been drag racing in Sydney's west, warning such reckless behaviour puts lives at risk.

NSW Transport Minister John Watkins warned any drivers found to have been driving dangerously or speeding could lose their licence.

The Bus and Coach Association also said the drivers should be disqualified if allegations they had been drag racing through a western Sydney tunnel were proved correct.

Bus drivers had been caught on camera as they race, run red lights, speed and crash, putting passengers and other road users at risk, News Limited reported.

In one incident two weeks ago, a driver was clocked at 75km/h in a 20km/h zone - one of nearly 200 offences by various drivers in one month, the papers said.

The reported "hoonish" behaviour allegedly involved drivers from Hillbus, Westbus and Busways, not state government buses.

"This dangerous and reckless behaviour puts pedestrians and bus passengers' lives at risk and action will be taken to immediately stop it," NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal said.

Mr Watkins said he was appalled and had already launched an inquiry.

"For anyone to breach the road rules is unacceptable," Mr Watkins told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"For a bus driver, who has the safety of those passengers in their bus, it's even more reprehensible, I believe."

Mr Watkins said he believed it was a small minority of bus drivers involved in the rogue behaviour.

"Most of our bus drivers across Sydney do a good job and they would be outraged by the few that have been identified today."

He said the investigation would involve the RTA, police and the transport ministry, which has the power to cancel individual bus drivers' licences.

"We will get to the bottom of it and we will take action," he said.

A spokesman for the Bus and Coach Association said: "We understand that the drivers' record will be looked at, the incident will be investigated and action will be taken, depending on the circumstance."

One set of security footage shows buses speeding side-by-side along the Patrick St tunnel leading to a commuter bus stop under Westpoint shopping centre at Blacktown, in Sydney's west.

The tunnel is reportedly fitted with speed bumps, some of which bus union officials have asked to be removed because they pose an occupational health and safety issue for driver's backs.

News Ltd newspapers reported 196 bus incidents were recorded in June alone, with more recent alleged offences including running a red light and almost hitting a pedestrian, and entering the Blacktown tunnel on the wrong side of the road.


©AAP 2007

meh.

God girl where do you find this shit. Smack them and take away licences. I would love to see them crush a bus that would be hell funny.

Absolutely!! Bring on the "Bus Crush"!!

It was top news on Ninemsn this morning

How cool would it be to have a fully modified bus?

I'd love a pimped bus. Imagine the size of the chromies!!!

media has spun this story hard. They want u to believe there were 2 bus's full of passengers racing 75 in a 20 zone. All it was is some people getting caught for speeding/redlight run that just so happens to be a bus driver too. meh.

They say in the story it was the buses. Not public buses though - private bus company drivers.

Adam - I'm sure you've said that before

Bus drivers had been caught on camera as they race, run red lights, speed and crash, putting passengers and other road users at risk, News Limited reported.

^ i was referring to that part.


wonder if that security footage measures speed too? or just an assumption like seein 2 'hoon' cars next to each other.

.....man its gonna hit the fan when they catch those trains dragging each other on the Melbourne/Altona split. I remember thinking the train was gonna derail....was fun though.

Train Crusher?

So excuse me for having a thing for buses.

like this

this is a drag bus

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PW8vg2sKlFU

See here - http://www.boostcruising.com/forums/index....ic=230212<br