Putney-based Bus Driver Loses Appeal Against Sacking
Fired after using his bus 'as a weapon' to intimidate cyclist
A 378 bus. Picture: YouTube/London Connected
A bus driver who was based at Putney Garage has failed in his bid to get his job back after he was sacked for driving in an intimidating manner towards a cyclist.
The driver, names as Mr S William, was originally fired after an earlier hearing was told that deliberately cut across a cyclist who he believed had delayed him by riding slowly in front of him.
An investigation concluded that he had ‘used his bus as a weapon’ by deliberately forcing the cyclist onto the kerb on 23 June 2021. He had been driving the 378 bus, which was out of service, back to the garage at Putney when the incident occurred.
The cyclist later caught up with the bus and kicked it, leading to an exchange of words between him and Mr William. An official complaint about the incident was made to TfL by a member of the public and a witness report was submitted by a pub owner who saw part of what occurred.
His employer, Go Ahead London, launched an investigation and, using the internal and external CCTV cameras plus data on the speed the bus was being driven at, concluded that Mr William’s driving had been sub-standard.
On the day of the incident he also ignored a ban on reversing buses at Mortlake Bus Station without assistance, a rule which was introduced after a passenger was killed there. In addition, he was recorded as driving at 28mph in a 20mph zone.
The investigation team concluded that he had been reckless and he was summarily dismissed by Go Ahead on 9 July 2021.
Mr William initially said that his dismissal constituted race and disability discrimination but these claims were rejected prior to the hearing which was held in August and a court confirmed the validity of his dismissal and the withholding of any notice payment.
The judge concluded that he had attempted to pincer the cyclist and driven in an aggressive manner and dismissed his defence of his actions as ‘outlandish’.
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October 6, 2022