Dog Drives 20-Ton Bus Safely Through Darwin, Australia

"This was weird, even for the Territory," noted witness and bus-stopper Phil Newton, 30. Newton, a shop assistant, had seen a lot in Dawrin, Australia but not this:

A dog was driving a 20-ton double-decker bus on Winnellie Road, through the Dawrin's industrial center. Newton told Northern Territory News that the dog was sitting in the driver's seat, with his paws on the steering wheel. Fortunately, the dog was going under the speed limit and had the driver's side window down. Newton sprinted to the bus, leaned in through the window and pulled the handbrake. The bus swerved but came to a halt within two hundred yards and inches of a parked car.

There were no injuries or damage.

Meet Woodley

The canine joy rider is Woodley, a two-year-old Australian koolie, also called a German koolie, a dog originally bred to herd livestock. His owner is the bus' regular driver, Richard McCormak, 62. The double-decker bus is a converted mobile home. McCormak had left the bus briefly to walk into a repair shop. Woodley keeps McCormack company on his long bus drives.

McCormak said he saw the bus going down the slight incline of Winnellie Road and raced out of the shop, "I couldn't believe it."

But when inquired by Northern Territory News, McCormak confessed that Woodley had tried this stunt before - but this was the first time he succeeded. The handbrake is conveniently located on the dashboard. McCormak theorizes that Woodley learned to release the handbrake and steer by watching his master. But before Woodley and McCormak hit the road again, the handbrake will be placed in a different area of the bus.

Reactions

When news about Woodley's joy ride hit the Australian press, the reactions were typically Australian, including inquiries if Woodley was offering stud services. "John" posted in the comments section of Northern Territory News:

'Talk about a slack attitude by this dog - he should go to the MVR and get a proper heavy vehicle licence (sic) like everyone else.'

No charges have been lodged against Woodley or his owner.

Those familiar with Australian koolies know that these are very intelligent dogs that get easily bored. If their owners do not give them something to do, they will find something to do - including learning how to drive, apparently.

References

Northern Territory News. "Dog Drives Double-Decker Bus in Darwin." Nigel Adlam. November 19, 2011. http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/11/19/273521_ntnews.html

The Sun. "Dog drives off in pedigree brum." Neil Millard. November 20, 2011. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3947093/Dog-drives-off-in-pedigree-brum.html