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Call for tougher bus driver laws
Road safety groups have come together to call for an immediate change in the law after a novice driver in charge of a First Bus killed a passenger when he fell asleep at the wheel.
Saeed Abbas, 26, of Marsh Street, Bradford, who had only passed his car driving test two years before the fatal crash, had been granted a Public Service Vehicle licence and was working as a full-time driver for First.
On Thursday Abbas was sentenced to seven years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving at Bradford Crown Court.
He had admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Albert Rowley, 82, of Brighouse, in September 2006.
Abbas, who had been working for First Bus for around a year, fell asleep at the wheel of the bus which left the road and crashed through a stone wall in Huddersfield.
The bus was carrying 44 passengers at the time, one of whom, Mr Rowley, later died in hospital.
During the course of the trial it emerged that in the space of a year Abbas had had four previous collisions, the fourth of which occurred just 19 days prior to the fatal crash.
The court also heard that he had been given a verbal warning and was facing disciplinary proceedings at the time of the accident.
Carole Whittingham, founder of the group SCARD (Support and Care After Road Death and Injury) based in Brighouse, said: "I am absolutely horrified to hear that such an inexperienced driver was allowed to be in charge of a bus.
"You are not even allowed to teach someone else to drive a car until you have been driving for over two years. A newly qualified driver does not have the experience or the maturity to make the necessary decisions.
"My son, Steven, was killed by a negligent driver so I know how the family of Mr Rowley must be feeling.
"That they should lose a loved one because of someone doing something as stupid as driving while overly tired is absolutely appalling. I think there needs to be an urgent change to the law before something like this happens again."
Lorna Jackson, of road safety charity Brake, said: "As a professional driver you are responsible for ensuring you are fit to drive. Having already fallen asleep Abbas should have gone to a manager and reported himself unfit. If you are falling asleep at the wheel you are obviously far too tired to drive anybody."
Brighouse Conservative councillor, Joyce Cawthra, said: "I am concerned about the level of training given to drivers, especially in a case where a driver has had four accidents. I would have thought re-training should be standard."
Khadim Hussain, First's operations director in Bradford, said the company had nothing to add to the statement it made in the aftermath of the court case, when he said: "We review and audit our driver training on a regular basis and are continually carrying out improvements to our processes to ensure drivers are trained to the highest standards."
5:35am Monday 4th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: JP, Keighley on 9:45am Mon 4 Feb 08
What happened to bus inspectors who used to ride on the buses to check the driver ?
What happened to bus inspectors who used to ride on the buses to check the driver ?
Posted by: JP, Keighley on 9:47am Mon 4 Feb 08
Why dont we see bus inspectors riding on buses anymore. They used to check on how the driver was driving ?
Why dont we see bus inspectors riding on buses anymore. They used to check on how the driver was driving ?
Posted by: its a joke, Bradford on 10:16am Mon 4 Feb 08
It's ridiculous that someone can go from being a complete learner driver to being a public bus driver in the space of two years. In addition to this also have FOUR accidents in a year and still be in charge of 44 passengers.
Isn't it First who have set up a driver training school in Poland to teach English and the British road system to drivers who they will then move over here? Then we will have drivers who will in two years go from being complete learner drivers in Poland to driving our buses here.
It's ridiculous that someone can go from being a complete learner driver to being a public bus driver in the space of two years. In addition to this also have FOUR accidents in a year and still be in charge of 44 passengers.
Isn't it First who have set up a driver training school in Poland to teach English and the British road system to drivers who they will then move over here? Then we will have drivers who will in two years go from being complete learner drivers in Poland to driving our buses here.
Posted by: bigbird, west yorks on 10:16am Mon 4 Feb 08
bus inspectors cost money and those who are out there, why would they be jostled about on a bus when they can sit in their nice cosy offices and talk to their drivers via radio.... !!! if they showed a presence as they did in the old days it might help stop some of the yob behaviour that we see on the bus's too.
bus inspectors cost money and those who are out there, why would they be jostled about on a bus when they can sit in their nice cosy offices and talk to their drivers via radio.... !!! if they showed a presence as they did in the old days it might help stop some of the yob behaviour that we see on the bus's too.
Posted by: albion, west riding on 10:31am Mon 4 Feb 08
[quote][bold]bigbird[/bold] wrote:
bus inspectors cost money and those who are out there, why would they be jostled about on a bus when they can sit in their nice cosy offices and talk to their drivers via radio.... !!! if they showed a presence as they did in the old days it might help stop some of the yob behaviour that we see on the bus's too. [/quote] Very well said.
bigbird wrote:
bus inspectors cost money and those who are out there, why would they be jostled about on a bus when they can sit in their nice cosy offices and talk to their drivers via radio.... !!! if they showed a presence as they did in the old days it might help stop some of the yob behaviour that we see on the bus's too.
Very well said.
Posted by: Andy Bairsto, Bradford on 1:23pm Mon 4 Feb 08
I would not trust a Polish licence or any from an eastern block country,for a nominal fee you could buy them upto and including HGV levels, infact licence tourism is often advertised in German motoring papers for people who could not and will never pass a genuine test.
I would not trust a Polish licence or any from an eastern block country,for a nominal fee you could buy them upto and including HGV levels, infact licence tourism is often advertised in German motoring papers for people who could not and will never pass a genuine test.
Posted by: flyblown, leeds on 1:31pm Mon 4 Feb 08
It's a case of paying peanuts and getting monkeys. Driving a bus is a highly responsible & stressful job and this should be reflected in the remuneration. However, as is often the case in this country, with it's totally sh*te public transport system, transport workers tend to be at the bottom of the pile. Unlike estate agents, accountants and other highly paid bullshi**ers bus drivers literally have peoples lives in their hands.
It's a case of paying peanuts and getting monkeys. Driving a bus is a highly responsible & stressful job and this should be reflected in the remuneration. However, as is often the case in this country, with it's totally sh*te public transport system, transport workers tend to be at the bottom of the pile. Unlike estate agents, accountants and other highly paid bullshi**ers bus drivers literally have peoples lives in their hands.
Posted by: World Nation, Bradford on 1:54pm Mon 4 Feb 08
I 'ate you, Butler!
Bring back good old Blakey.
I 'ate you, Butler!
Bring back good old Blakey.
Posted by: Dave2008, Bradford on 4:30pm Mon 4 Feb 08
As an ex-bus driver myself, I have to say the problem is not with the inexperience, but the hours that drivers are forced to drive by First and the other companies. Many of my shifts I was expected to drive for two 5 hour spells in a 12 hour day - well that is far too long in my opinion, and if you ever complained to the management about being tired, they'd still expect you to drive - [bold]the rule was as long as the bus ran and they don't get penalised by the traffic commission then sod driver and passenger safety[/bold] . Its the bus companies that need bringing to book, not the drivers.
As an ex-bus driver myself, I have to say the problem is not with the inexperience, but the hours that drivers are forced to drive by First and the other companies. Many of my shifts I was expected to drive for two 5 hour spells in a 12 hour day - well that is far too long in my opinion, and if you ever complained to the management about being tired, they'd still expect you to drive -
the rule was as long as the bus ran and they don't get penalised by the traffic commission then sod driver and passenger safety . Its the bus companies that need bringing to book, not the drivers.
Posted by: World Nation, Bradford on 5:41pm Mon 4 Feb 08
I don't ever remember drivers nodding off when they had Clippies for company!
I don't ever remember drivers nodding off when they had Clippies for company!
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