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Smoking and on his mobile while driving a bendy bus
Kiran Randhawa, Evening Standard11.10.07
This is the moment a driver was caught smoking and talking on his mobile phone while at the wheel of a bendy bus packed with passengers.
The damning picture captures the man driving the 60ft vehicle through central London, apparently oblivious to the busy road ahead.
Transport chiefs have launched an inquiry after they were passed a copy of the photograph by the Evening Standard.
It is believed the man could face the sack for breaching health and safety.
The driver of the Arriva No 29 bus, which operates between Trafalgar Square and Wood Green, was seen at about 12.30pm on Monday.
Andrew Hedges, who took the photograph when the bus stopped at a red light in Bloomsbury Street, said: "This guy was at the traffic lights with the engine running while he was smoking and chatting away on the phone.The bus was quite full.
"As soon as he saw me take the picture, he panicked and threw the cigarette out of the window and turned off his phone. But it was too late - I'd already captured him on camera."
Mr Hedges, a 21-year-old production engineer from St Albans, added: "It's pretty shocking. I was amazed at the audacity of the guy."
Driving while using a mobile phone was made illegal in December 2003 and people who breach the rules face a £60 fine and three points on their licence.
Smoking was banned in public places, including buses, in July and a new rule, included in the latest edition of the Highway Code, warns that motorists caught smoking at the wheel could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.
An Arriva spokesman said today: "Clearly this behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Arriva London.
"An investigation into this incident is already under way and the driver has been identified. We have a clear and robust policy on mobile phone use and smoking - any employee proven to be in breach of this will face the highest disciplinary award."
Bendy buses have caused controversy since hundreds of them were introduced from 2002 to replace London's popular Routemasters.
Official figures show they have caused more than twice as many injuries as any other bus.
The vehicles were involved in 1,751 accidents last year, 75 per cent more than other buses, and injured more than 90 pedestrians and cyclists.
They also caused 170 per cent more collisions-with cyclists, nearly three times as many as conventional buses.
This week, passenger Lee Beckwith died after being caught in the wheels of a bendy bus and dragged for a mile in Manor Park. Two other people, including a 12-year-old girl, have been killed by bendy buses since December.
Reader views (14)
Peter from Wrexham, don't you think it's a bit unwise to leave your engine running as you 'pop' into the shop? Is it that difficult to stop it? Or do you park illegally and hope for a quick getaway?
- Chris, Bath
The use of mobile phones whilst "driving". The enforecement agencies definition actually states whilst in charge of a motor vehicle - which means the engine is running - you could be stood on the pavement with the car engine running and be charged. Whether you could be found guilty sat behind the wheel with the engine off is debateable, but once the engine is on the law awaits. Remember that next time you leave the engine on whilst nipping into the shop with a friend in the back seat (or front passenger) as they could be charged as being in charge of the vehicle. Obviously only if they used a mobile!
- Peter, Wrexham, Wales
If the guy was parked up I would not have bothered taking the photo. Clearly on the phone, smoking and driving a bus. Your life is in his hands.
- Hedges, London
Strange how this photo is a close up, it dosent look to me as if the driver is actually driving but is parked up, in which case he is not breaking the law.
- Donnie, UK
Whether he was driving at the time or not is irrelevant, he's breaking the law by smoking!
Not only that, who knows if he's also going to be responsible for the premature deaths of any of his passengers due to them breathing his noxious fumes?
People like this need to be removed from jobs where they put the health of their customers at risk. Passengers expect a certain level of safety when they travel, they don't expect a dose of cancer!
- Jan, London
I'm puzzled by these photos. They show a driver smoking and on his mobile phone, yes, but he could be parked on a bus stand! The photo do not show him doing this whilst the bus is moving!
- Peter Horrex, Enfield, North London
Whilst not condoning this drivers action, I see many car, van and lorry drivers using their phone whilst driving. Why do people not take pictures of these drivers and submit them to news papers?
- Steve Hooper, Romsey, Hampshire
Although, it is great to have more buses and routes available in the Capital - they are not the only road users. There should be better training for bus drivers before they are inflicted on our roads and they should be made aware, and it should be enforced as with any other driver, that they drive sensibly, respect the law, and take due care and attention for their passengers, pedestrians and other road users. Their size should not mean that they have carte blanche on the roads and does not give them an entitlement to cause disruption to other users of the road by going over red lights, entering junction boxes and blocking traffic flow by entering junctions where there is no possibility of them completing their manoeuvre for which any other driver could be cautioned by the police.
- Linda Wade, London
Not a very tough one to call. I don't see how he can avoid termination.
- John, Roermond, The Netherlands
Might send out a message to other fools doing the same thing at bus companies.
- Paul Rice, London, UK
It's quite simple, just sack the bloke and give him a driving ban.
- Gh, London
I've shopped van drivers for being on mobile phones and driving. In both cases I used a photo from my mobile as evidence - ironic eh!
- Cd, London
Bendy buses may take more passengers, but they also take twice as much road space. There have been too many safety problems with them.
- Beatriz, London
Well done Andrew Hedges, we'll all now be facing another strike by Bob Crowe.
- Trevor Roll, London
