Bus driver pleads guilty to careless driving after hitting pedestrian
By Ross Lidbetter
ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk
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CRASH SCENE: Cordoned off Lansdowne Road after the incident
A bus driver has been fined after pleading guilty to careless driving after hitting a woman as she stepped off the kerb.
But Raymond Taylor, who was driving a number 367 single decker earned some sympathy when sentenced at Croydon Crown Court.
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The court heard that the 63 year-old, of Ash Tree Way, Shirley, should have taken action to miss the teenage pedestrian.
However, Judge Stephen Waller noted that he had been driving at well below the speed limit - it was estimated at 22 mph - and had sounded his horn when he saw her on the road.
And he added: "I bear in mind you were driving a public service vehicle and I assume there were passengers in it, and it is not easy to take evasive action.
"An emergency stop or sudden swerve might put passengers in danger."
The judge fined Taylor £300 with £200 costs, and imposed three penalty points, but did not disqualify him from driving.
Linda Shamel, prosecuting, said Metrobus driver Taylor was driving along Lansdowne Road, Croydon, on April 3 last year when three people began to cross.
She said: "The two in front crossed safely but the woman appeared to freeze on the road.
"The driver failed to brake at all. We say he should have braked and stopped the bus, or swerved around the victim."
The 18 year-old pedestrian was seriously injured as the front near-side of the bus caught her.
Bethan Charnley, defending, said: "He accepts that he was momentarily careless.
"He saw them but he did not slow down in time. Another estimate of the speed has been put at 15 mph."
Taylor, a former Royal Mail employee, had a long history of good driving.
Judge Waller told Taylor: "It is a sad story but, in terms of fault by you, it is at the very lowest end of the scale."
Comments
by tryme, croydon
Sunday, March 21 2010, 2:14PM
“id rather wait for the green man its not worth it”
by The Insider, CROYDON
Saturday, March 20 2010, 6:23PM
“I had cause to 'hoot' at a group of kids who stepped out in front of my car, looking completely the wrong way. I hooted just to warn them of my presence and all I got was one of them standing in front of me making 'come on' gestures! If you can't see a big red bus perhaps you should have gone to specsavers!”
by Anon, croydon
Saturday, March 20 2010, 2:57PM
“I agree with peter on this one..yesterday i saw a young kid, run out in the road, totally unaware that a car was right behind him..held my breathe for a bit..luckily the driver slammed on his brakes...parents were there too, they never told the boy off...
Me as a pedestrian, don't care how stupid i look, i wait for the green man to appear, while others just walk across the road.”
by arfur daley, croydon
Saturday, March 20 2010, 11:48AM
“Sounds like he should have got off completely, if only he'd had the money to afford a decent lawyer.”
by The3rd, Croydon
Saturday, March 20 2010, 11:42AM
“Too right Peter.
You should try driving through Thornton Heath or South Norwood. People see you coming and STILL walk out in front of you.”
by Peter, Wallington
Saturday, March 20 2010, 11:31AM
“I have sympathy for the bus driver here as it seems from my expeience the pedestrians of Croydon have a death wish or think that they are invincible.
Down at West Croydon, near Maplins, they amble across the road in front of buses and trams thinking "They're going to have to stop for me".”