Bus provider Kinetic apologises for incidents on Townsville school routes
A regional Queensland bus company has apologised to families for a third driver breach in as many months as concerns about student safety grow.
Kinetic is a state government-contracted bus service that operates in and around Townsville.
Last week a driver was stood down after students reported inappropriate behaviour.
"They exited and boarded another Kinetic service, making the second driver aware of the incident," a Townsville Catholic Education spokesperson said.
"The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority and we commend the students on acting in a responsible way."
Kinetic said the driver exhibited "unprofessional behaviour".
The company has committed to undertaking a thorough investigation into the May 15 incident.
Kinetic relies received more than $16 million worth of state funding in the 2023-24 financial year to deliver its Townsville services, but parents are concerned for their children's safety.
Amanda Wright's daughter was on board a Kinetic bus in April when the driver attempted a risky turn in a 110-kilometre-per-hour zone.
Footage taken by the schoolgirl showed Flinders Highway traffic at a standstill as the driver attempted a U-turn.
"The driver made the turn on a crest, crossing double white lines, blocking the highway in both directions in our first fog of the season," Ms Wright said.
Ms Wright said the driver involved also missed a stop that day.
Kinetic confirmed that a stop was missed and said the company had a policy to never leave a child behind.
But Ms Wright said Kinetic regularly left children behind, including her own.
"All the parents out here know Kinetic's number by heart," Ms Wright said.
"So we can call and say, 'Hey you have left our children on the side of the Flinders Highway, can you please go get them before they get stolen?'"
Kinetic told the ABC that the actions seen on the video did not meet company standards.
It said it conducted a prompt investigation and reinforced training.
A mother whose children were abandoned by Kinetic at a flooded bridge said she feared the company was not improving.
The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has two children who use the service.
She said in March a Kinetic driver told one of her children to disembark and remove a road-closed sign so the bus could cross the flooded bridge.
"As locals we know you don't go through that — it is fast-moving," the mother said.
She raised concerns with Kinetic and submitted a formal complaint, but a week later her children and other school passengers were told to get off the bus at the same flooded bridge.
"We are worried about retaliation if we report something on the bus," the woman said.
The driver involved in the incidents raised by the mother was stood down.
Kinetic said an investigation into the incident had been completed, but would not comment on whether the driver would return to work.
Kinetic general manager Martin Hall said the company took full responsibility for the incidents.
"None of the occurrences were to the standard we hold ourselves to," he said.
"The trust families place in us to transport their children safely is something we deeply value.
"We apologise unreservedly to the students and families affected."
Mr Hall said Kinetic drivers in Townsville worked through difficult circumstances over the last few months.
"Our drivers have worked tirelessly to deliver services across Townsville despite recent challenges that have impacted the entire community, including weather events and labour shortages," he said.
"Our bus drivers come to work each day committed to providing safe transportation for the communities they serve, often navigating difficult road conditions and making decisions in real time."
Translink, a division of the state transport department, refused to comment on recent Kinetic incidents.
"Delivery partner staff are employed by the operators," a Translink spokesperson said.
"We work with operators to ensure an investigation in relation to significant service delivery complaints has been undertaken.
"We do not comment on delivery partner decisions on their staff."
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