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What Drivers Think When a Bus Crashes Into a River

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You Don’t Need to Be in the Cab to Feel It: A crash like that echoes through every depot. We weren’t there. But we know the weight of the wheel.

I’m not a double deck driver. I wasn’t there. And I won’t claim to know what happened near Eastleigh yesterday, not with investigations still ongoing. But like a lot of us in the seat, I felt that cold drop in my gut.

There’s something about seeing one of ours, uniformed, behind the wheel, doing the job, caught in a headline that starts with “crash” and ends with “students injured.” You feel it. Not because you know the full story (you don’t), but because you know the pressure, the road, the weight of that responsibility.

Most of us go our whole careers without facing anything like that. We hope to keep it that way. But that doesn’t stop your mind from going there. Doesn't stop you wondering, What would I do? Would I have seen it coming? Could I have changed anything?

The truth is, buses are heavy things. We drive them through tight spaces, unpredictable traffic, and distraction everywhere, while carrying lives. And when something goes wrong, it tends to go wrong loudly.

I don’t know what caused that crash. And I won’t speculate. But I do know this: there are a lot of drivers out here today taking that extra pause at the brake check. Clocking a little more caution in the wet. Feeling a little more seen, but also more vulnerable.

To the passengers affected, and their families: I’m sorry. No one boards a bus expecting fear. You deserved a smooth, boring journey.

To the driver: I won’t speak for you. But I hope you're getting the support you need. The rest of us are thinking about you, quietly, respectfully, and more often than we’ll admit aloud.

Because we all felt it.

Further Reading

A cracked black bus steering wheel floats upright in still water, with gentle ripples radiating outward. The image is sparse and sombre.

For those seeking verified updates or official information about the Eastleigh crash, here are some trusted sources:

Meta Description: A driver’s honest reflection after the Eastleigh bus crash, no answers, just empathy and the fear we rarely voice aloud.

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