Hellish ride on Knutsford Express

On Sunday, March 9, 2014, my spouse and I boarded the Knutsford Express (Lic# PF3784) at its Kingston location for our trip to Ocho Rios. Scheduled for an 8:30 a.m. departure, we departed 20 minutes later, as the 8:30 a.m. coach (Lic# PD8541) could not accommodate all the passengers assembled there.

I have used the Knutsford Express service over the last few years (beginning with the Worthington Avenue location). I have commended the service to several relatives and friends both resident in Jamaica and visiting. Without exception, they were all full of praise for the ride, the experience and the courtesy of the crews and, that I readily endorsed - until now!

March 9, 2014 was a red letter day for us both. Minutes after departure, along Waterloo Road and the Washington Boulevard, our driver was driving 80km/h. (We were seated in the foremost passenger seats, which afforded me a perfect view of the odometer). This speed was maintained until we reached the Portmore toll road, where he did 100km/h or so (legally).

Back on the Spanish Town-Bog Walk road, he was doing 60km/h and over and was going 50 and below (the legal speed limit) only when he was behind another vehicle.

On two occasions - one at Angels, outside of Spanish Town, and the second, near the police station at Ewarton - he had to brake sharply to avoid hitting a car from behind! To say, we were terrified is to put it mildly, but what is more shocking was that for the greater part of this journey, the driver was on his cell phone(s) at one point - one cell phone was connected with a headset with the phone in his left hand, while his other phone was in his right gloved hand, which he was using simultaneously to steer the vehicle!

I could see other passengers gasping, as was my spouse and I regretted that my camera was in my luggage in the hollow of the bus. But relief came to us at the foot of Mount Rosser when, guess what? He caught up with the bus (Lic# PD8541) which had left 20 minutes earlier!

This other driver unknowingly gave him an object lesson in 'how to drive a PPV vehicle' all the way to Ocho Rios, as it was impossible (although he tried once) to pass on the narrow, winding roads.

At the end of the journey, I made sure to complain to other staff members - in his presence - about this horrible experience and to point out how thankful I was for the model driver, who checked the speed of our driver. I asked that the matter be reported to management.

Now this was the first time my spouse was travelling on the Knutsford Express and I had spoken to her of the "wonderful" service which the Knutsford Express provides and to which she could look forward. So my face was covered with egg.

On our return trip, I made sure that the driver was not the same man, as I would not have boarded another bus with him at the wheel, and I conveyed this to the Knutsford Express personnel that were there.

Now a word of advice to the management. I know your staff are well trained and the drivers are exemplary, and that, I assure you, is why your company has grown. Don't allow persons of that ilk to reverse those gains! The driver of a PPV vehicle has special responsibilities, and when that vehicle is carrying more than 40 passengers, he has many lives in his hands, even if he chooses to be frivolous with his.

Disgusted And Shaken

Kingston