Special Report: Dangerous Driving

Watch as our camera catches this MBTA bus ignoring a stop sign in South Boston.

A little further down the street, this bus shows no sign of stopping at the corner. It goes through the intersection and almost hits a car.

Just minutes later, another bus coasts right through the same stop sign, hardly slowing down.

It's frightening to watch, and even more frightening for the people who live here!

Paul Doherty, Concerned Resident

"I've seen them fly by."

Steve, Concerned Resident

"A lot of times, more often than not, they just go right through or they tap the brakes and just keep on going. It's one thing to see a mistake happen, but it's another thing to see it day in and day out."

What's worse for this South Boston resident, his children cross this corner every day.

Steve, Concerned Resident

"It's very worrisome. My concern is that a child is going to get hurt."

Over a four month period, 7NEWS staked out buses at two different corners in South Boston. And in that time, we caught buses sailing through stop signs more than 50 times.

Look at this bus as it drives past the stop sign, following another.

On a different day, a different bus breaking the law.

Even on a snowy day, this bus barely slows down as it passes by our camera, right through the stop sign.

And watch as this one runs straight through the intersection. Here's a view from inside that bus. The onboard camera shows, just minutes after we saw the bus run a stop sign, it does it again, and then again

7NEWS also found out that during the first two months of this year alone, there were more than 100 complaints filed against MBTA bus drivers for traffic violations which, in addition to not stopping at stop signs, include things like running red lights, illegal turns and aggressive driving.

With our surveillance video, we went straight to the MBTA looking for some answers.

Jim Folk, MBTA Deputy Chief Operating Officer

"It's totally unacceptable."

The MBTA’S Jim Folk says any time a bus driver is caught breaking a traffic rule, action is taken immediately.

Jim Folk, MBTA Deputy Chief Operating Officer

"The first time you receive 3 days off without pay. But, as well as, they will receive defensive driving training again.”

This driver volunteered to show us how training works in their hi-tech simulator.

Jim Folk, MBTA Deputy Chief Operating Officer

"Our instructors will teach them again how they're supposed to react in traffic conditions."

And, Folk says they are constantly checking driver safety.

Jim Folk, MBTA Deputy Chief Operating Officer

"We actually go out and do random observations of intersections."

But these Southie residents say, they want to see more done now, before there is a tragedy later.

Steve, Concerned Resident

"When you are driving a ten ton bus, you don't have room for mistakes."

As a result of our investigation, MBTA officials tell us they have stepped up enforcement at the two corners we staked out: P and East 3rd streets and P and East 4th streets.

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