Dysons driver stood down after refusing to let blind woman and her guide dog board bus
A driver who stopped a blind woman’s guide dog from getting on a bus in Rosanna, sparking a 50-minute showdown, was not allowed to get behind the wheel this morning. But the woman says she has still not received a direct apology.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Dysons driver who refused to let a blind woman and her guide dog aboard a bus yesterday was not allowed to get behind the wheel this morning.
The Leader understands the driver will be unable to get behind the wheel until Dysons conclude investigations into whether their employee requires extra training.
Dysons group manager Paul Giusti said ”driver misunderstanding” sparked the bizarre incident.
“Dysons unreservedly apologises for any inconvenience caused to the passenger and others on the bus,” he said.
“We are disappointed that her commute to work did not proceed as it should have.”
When the driver denied the 50-year-old entry, Ms Pearson and her golden labrador Arthur stepped onto the bus anyway, sparking a 50 minute stand-off.
The driver then called the police, who offered to drive Ms Pearson to work in a police car, but she declined.
Department of Transport head of transport services Jeroen Weimar told the Leader Dysons was ordered to apologise for the “unacceptable” incident.
Mr Weimar yesterday told Leader the driver’s behaviour was “unacceptable”.
“We’ve asked (Dysons) to review what measures can be put in place to ensure it never happens again,” he said.
“The Department of Transport has also asked Dysons to work with Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV) to see what training opportunities might be appropriate for their staff.”
Mr Giusti said Dysons had reconnected with GDV to deliver driver training.
“Dysons is reviewing its driver education programs,” he said.
“Dysons is committed to ensuring that people with a disability can travel freely and comfortable on its services.”
But Louise Pearson, who tried to board the route 513 bus on Finlayson St in Rosanna about 7.50am on Tuesday, said she was still yet to receive a direct apology.
Ms Pearson said she had travelled to work on the same bus route for the past four years without incident.
“I was just going about my normal Tuesday morning, but did not expect that to happen to me — it’s 2020 and these incidents should not be happening,” she said.
MORE NEWS
FOUR IN RACE TO FILL WHITTLESEA COUNCILLOR SEAT
‘UNNECESSARY’: COUNCILLOR’S CALL TO BAN RATEPAYER-FUNDED BOOZE
CLEAN-UP DEMANDED OF WALLAN’S ‘GREAT WALL’ OF RUBBISH
The Rosanna resident agreed the driver should be retrained.
“We just can’t have this happening in future,” Ms Pearson said.
“Anyone can recognise Arthur as a guide dog from his harness — I've never had this sort of thing happen to me before in 20 years.”