After several years as a tour bus driver, Sivert Rønninghaug (63) considered trying his hand as a bus driver this year.
– It’s not to be missed that I can earn a little extra money from it.
Negotiations with the Russians, however, were not as easy.
Rønninghaug feels that he is not qualified as a driver when he makes two demands: None “stuffing”Fill the bus with more passengers than is allowed and zero tolerance for drugs.
Bus driver
– Then I am not available to them, and they would rather have others. It’s hair-raising.
When the bus is in motion, it is not allowed to have more people in the bus than the vehicle is approved for.
If this law is broken, the driver, who is responsible for this, can have the driver’s license confiscated on the spot.
– And it’s a disaster for me. Then I’m out of a job.
– I also think that it is unjustifiable. There are great forces at work. The consequences can be disastrous.
Tønsbergs Blad mentioned the case first. Trygg Trafikk also believes that such driving is irresponsible.
– It is one of the things we are most afraid of when it comes to Russian buses. We know that, unfortunately, it happens quite often that the buses are filled with more people than is allowed.
That’s what Press Manager at Trygg Trafikk, Christoffer Solstad Steen, says. He believes that such driving can have major consequences.
– What we fear is if one of the buses, for example, brakes suddenly, stops or crashes. Then they can have consequences for 60 to 80 young people, he says.
Press manager at Trygg Trafikk, Christoffer Solstad Steen
He believes the drivers must take responsibility.
– It is also a paradox that the Russians themselves try to get people to break the rules, but this will have major consequences for the young people themselves, if something happens, Steen says.
Also read: This is how they push the boundaries
Have experienced the same
Rønninghaug is not alone in the experience. Øystein Anker Dreng (60) has driven a Russian bus in Vestfold for five years, and calls the “cramming” uncultured.
– Several people ask if I am interested in driving one evening. And eventually comes the question of whether I am willing to crowd the bus.
Bus driver
This year he drives a bus. But last year at the latest, he was offered NOK 25,000 to fill the bus with people, he says. But Dreng has consistently said no to the offers.
– Then they offer to pay more.
Boy usually drives a tour bus. By breaking the rules, he risks losing his driver’s license.
– For me personally, it is a crisis. And at least as important is safety.
In the video below, you get to see the inside of “Hjuling 2024”, which VG met during the national meeting in Stavanger:
VG has previously written about Russians driving their bus to Sweden to get more legal passenger places. Because with Swedish approval, far more people are allowed on the bus.
Last year, Russ told VG that buses that had room for many people had a high status.
Watch the Russian show his best party tricks in the video below:
