TODAY the Evening Times reveals its latest campaign – a bid to make city streets safer for our residents.

Busted is our call for bus bosses to say ‘enough is enough’ and crack down on dangerous driving.

As our images show, bus drivers are taking risks by jumping red lights – and putting pedestrians at risk.

Of course, the vast majority of bus drivers in Scotland are conscientious, safe motorists.

But the small minority of rogue bus and coach drivers are making the streets unsafe.

The Evening Times is calling for an end to dangerous, inconsiderate driving on our public transport.

One pedestrian who contacted us told us how he had been hit on the shoulder by a bus.

The man, who asked not to be named, was crossing St Vincent Street near to Glasgow City Chambers.

The bus had stopped in the yellow box, forcing those crossing the road to walk round the front of the bus.

One pedestrian looked at the driver and shook his head, before the man we have been speaking to did the same.

The driver then nudged the bus forward apparently on purpose and hit the pedestrian on the shoulder.

He said: “I immediately took down the details of the bus and complained to the company.

“I ended up with a glib response saying that drivers take all complaints seriously.

“It wasn’t good enough. Bus drivers are a danger on Glasgow’s roads – if you don’t look before you step out then they will run through a red light.”

And it is not just pedestrians who are put at risk by illegal driving.

Cyclists are also vulnerable road users who have to take care not to get in the way of a bus or coach crashing through a red light.

Calum Cook, a committee member for the cycling group GoBike, said: “Dangerous driving is clearly a major factor that deters people from cycling, but the best way to address this is to improve cycling infrastructure.

“Segregated cycle lanes, like the ones we’re beginning to see on Sauchiehall Street and Victoria Road, keep buses separate from people on bikes.

“Building a network of these should be the top priority.”

He added: “In the meantime, it’s important that bus operators ensure all their drivers are aware of how to drive safely around people on bikes.

“We would highlight the great work done by Lothian Buses to provide practical cycle awareness training to all their drivers, and would like to see this adopted more widely.”

We know that poor driving is consigned to a small number of professional drivers.

Most bus and coach drivers keep Glasgow moving by providing safe and reliable public transport.

And the Evening Times agrees with public transport campaign group Get Glasgow Moving that improved public transport is the best way to make Glasgow greener and more environmentally friendly.

But campaigner Ellie Harrison says things could be better – and that means decent pay and conditions for drivers who might feel pressure to keep running to time, even if that means dodgy moves on the road.

Ellie said: “We don’t want to be bashing buses, we are pro-bus.

“We know there are problems but I would relate them to poor training, paying conditions and the stressful working environment.

“The last thing we want is for less people to use the bus.

“Drivers shouldn’t have to compete for little road space and more bus priority measures should be put in place. Hopefully then the bus drivers wouldn’t be so pushed for time.

“Thinking of the bus system, you could have a much higher standard of driver training if our buses were properly regulated.

“This would result in better conditions for drivers too, as routes could be properly planned and less congestion would mean that the drivers would probably not have to jump through red lights.

“It’s a free for all at the moment.

“We are pro-bus and pro-driver as well and a system like this would be better for 99 per cent of people in Glasgow.”

We want to hear from YOU

AS part of our call to arms, we want Evening Times readers to tell us of their experiences.

Have you seen buses jump red lights?

Do drivers sit in yellow boxes and block the roads?

If you’re a cyclist, do you ever have trouble sharing your route with buses or coaches?

Share your stories, photographs and videos by emailing news@eveningtimes.co.uk

Or contact us here

Together we will make Glasgow’s roads safer.