Complaint 581451

Complaint Summary

SEATS

Owner Narrative

I AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER FOR WEST MILFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION. DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR WHENEVER MY BUS WAS IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TO DRIVE BUS 206. THIS BUS HAS A DEFECT WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT IT HAS AN AIR SEAT WHICH BOUNCES YOU ALL OVER THE PLACE AND SLAMS YOU BACK DOWN CAUSING YOU TO BANG VERY HARD INTO THE FLOOR AND THEN SPRINGS YOU BACK UP LIKE A JACK IN THE BOX. THE ONLY WAY I CAN DRIVE THIS BUS IS TO DRIVE WITH ALL THE AIR OUT OF THE SEAT AND THEN I HAVE TO SIT ON PILLOWS TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOT JERK IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. EVERYONE DRIVES THIS SPARE BUS VERY SLOWLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SLOW YOU GO OR HOW SMALL THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD ARE THE SEAT STILL THROWS YOU AROUND. THIS SEAT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT NO-ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FIND THIS SEAT TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AS IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME OR INJURY TO THE DRIVER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST AND BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT DRIVERS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT, AND IF WE TRY TO REFUSE TO DRIVE IT WE ARE GIVEN A HARD TIME ABOUT IT BY THE SUPERVISOR AND TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THEN SENT HOME WITHOUT PAY FOR THE DAY. *NM

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.