The benefits of technology allied to teamwork were brought into sharp relief at Frist Bristol when they were used to save a woman’s life.
First’s Control Room Operator Greg Davey was called by the police to put out urgent information on a missing person who intended to take her life by jumping from the suspension bridge.
The Ticketer messaging system and radio was used and within minutes driver Bill Johnstone reported that the person had just got off his bus and asked which bus would take her to the bridge.
The information was passed to the police, while control room operator Ashley Robbins radioed route 8 buses to read their messages and call back immediately if the person boarded.
Straightaway driver Gary Britton responding saying the person was on his bus. So as not to raise suspicion Mr Robbins radioed the bus to pull over as it might have an engineering defect, while Mr Davey got police to go to the bus. CCTV at First was able to track the bus and the police were then able to help the person.
Says Mr Davey: “Had it not have been for the quick thinking and team work, the event could have had a very different outcome.”
