Bus driver cleared after passenger flung into window (From Your Local Guardian)

Tooting bus driver cleared after passenger flung into window

9:09am Sunday 15th January 2012 in Wandsworth By Rachel Blundy

A bus driver who made an 'emergency stop' which threw a passenger against a window has been cleared of careless driving.

Mohamed Adam, 59, was driving the 355 bus from Brixton to Mitcham when a Nissan car in front stopped to make way for a police car, and he was forced to brake.

The incident in Mitcham Road on the morning of July 14 left one female passenger requiring hospital treatment after she was flung forward and hit her head on a window.

Another passenger was thrown to the floor as the driver decelerated from 15mph but did not sustain any serious injuries, Richmond Magistrates court heard on Friday (January 13).

Miss Robinson, prosecuting, said Mr Adam had "more than enough time" to make a safe stop.

"The defendant failed to see the vehicle in front," she said. "This caused him to brake heavily, causing passengers to sustain injuries.

"The prosecution say that he had more than enough time if he was concentrating."

But Miss Wass, defending, said neither of the injured passengers were holding onto the bus hand rails when it came to a halt.

“Simply having to enter a controlled braking manoeuvre does not make Mr Adam liable for this offence,” she said.

Giving evidence, Mr Adam, who was accompanied by a trainee bus driver on the day of the incident, said: “As soon as I saw the Nissan brake lights coming on, I put on the brakes.

“I would describe it as a controlled brake, not an emergency brake. At the time I didn't see any reason for why a passenger would have fallen down.”

Mr Adam, of Ribblesdale Road, Tooting, pleaded not guilty to one count of driving a vehicle without due care and attention. He was cleared of all charges.

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