How long does it take for drivers to learn a new route?

[whole diary]

[GBM]

Ouch Tim, that hurts!
I think if you total the number of bridge strikes against the number of miles driven, that would be a very low percentage.
Likewise the number of accidents against miles driven, low percentage again.

With our division of the company, generally it's a 39 hour working week. less daily meal break varying between 35mins - 120 mins (dependin on length of duty) - perhaps a 32 hour actual driving week.  The number of weekly miles driven by each driver could be in the high several hundreds or more.
Most of our runs are single road with passing spaces in deckers, the run taking up to 2 hours to complete (more in summer).  Those runs we meet locals in winter; and visitors who are unable to cope with reversing (or adjust to the lack of road width) in summer.
I believe the majority of our incidents are related to windows & trees rather than vehicle to vehicle contact.
In my less than 5 years in the far West, I believe we've had 1 bridge stike (empty bus), and no pedestrian stikes.  Personal figures only, not seen anything official.  As drivers, we hear and meet those from other depots, so gossip and stories pass through the County.
The latter two incidents would make the local media, and is based personal recall.

[GBM]

P.S. Our company is heavily committed to safety.  Every incident has to have an investigation, followed by an awarding of "points" if the driver is at fault.  The higher the points, the more at risk the driver is likely to be, and the more retraining he's given.  Eventually if his score is still high, he's encouraged to change companies.
Each vehicle is also fitted with motion sensors and these give each driver (different) points on his driving ability - braking, cornering, acceleration, direction change & speeding.  Drivers can see their daily/weekly/mointhly/annual figures; all on a map or list view.  Drivers can see their own figures compared to their team score, also his own position within the team.  Depots all have a weekly target, as does the Country.
Safety comes first.

[ellendune]

It would seem other bus companies do not have the same priorities. If you view Network Rail's videos of vehicles going across level crossings on red flashing lights you will see one bus company livery appearing on more once among the offenders!