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Updated - Video: Birmingham bus driver who read book at wheel gets the sackBus driver reading.png

Updated - Video: Birmingham bus driver who read book at wheel gets the sack

Driver's career reaches end of the line for putting passenger safety at risk, but police won't investigate...
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 09:56
7

A bus driver in Birmingham filmed by a passenger reading a book at the wheel while using his elbows to steer the vehicle has been handed some new reading material in the shape of a P45 after being sacked by his employers, National Express West Midlands.

Last week, we reported that the driver had been so wrapped up in his book that he failed to notice that he was being filmed as he drove his vehicle along the city's busy Bristol Street, and the footage has attracted more than 100,000 views after being posted to the video-sharing website, YouTube.

The BBC reports that the driver’s employment has been terminated following a disciplinary hearing last Friday.

Following the incident, a spokesman from the bus company said: "Immediate action was taken to suspend the driver who will now face disciplinary action.

"It is not appropriate to predict the outcome but an incident of this type is likely to lead to a dismissal.

"Passenger safety is always our priority and it is completely unacceptable for any driver to behave in this manner."

Update:

We have asked West Midlands Police whether they were conducting an investigation against the driver, and have been told that they do not plan to take any action.  

 

 

Road Safety
Buses
Bus driver
Birmingham

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7 comments

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skippy | 14 years ago
0 likes

Multi tasking at the wheel is a growing problem on the roads! Eating lunch whilst talking on the hand held phone as they read the paperwork address held in the hand holding the steering wheel as they seek their turn off the main road to deliver the goods leaves most drivers unable to signal their intention to turn!
Telepathy controlled vehicles will solve a few of these tasks but talking with a full mouth will remain a problem!
What happened to the "old Fashioned driver " who checked their street directory before starting out as they ate lunch at the cafe?
Bored with driving, then stay at home! Too many factors exist on the road these days for less than 100% concentration whether in a truck, a car or even on two wheels!

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Zaskar | 14 years ago
0 likes

Not happy he lost his job but I am happy that one less idiot is off the road.

13

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MalcolmBinns | 14 years ago
0 likes

The CPS couldn't organise the proverbial - no wonder they're not pursuing him.

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Simon E | 14 years ago
0 likes

The police are too busy stopping cyclists or hassling photographers (and anyone else they don't like the look of) to worry about dangerous drivers.

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OldRidgeback | 14 years ago
0 likes

Good - why is he not going to be charged with driving without due care and attention also?
The cops have all the evidence they need.

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Shiny Flu | 14 years ago
0 likes

I guess he never heard about Audio books 26

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wild man | 14 years ago
0 likes

Perfectly safe, he should sue for sex discrimination- it's a myth that men can't multi- task.

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