VICTORY FOR TORQUAY BUS DRIVERS

october 2005 :: RMTnews 5 ANOTHER VICTORY FOR TORQUAY BUS DRIVERS Paul Humphreys, employed by Stagecoach South Devon Buses, was summonsed for failing to comply with the red traffic signal on the A380, Newton Road, Jury's Corner, Devon. Proceedings against five other Stagecoach drivers, Christopher Coverdale, Charles Garlick, Mark Stott, Andrew Whitworthy, and Leonard Woodbridge, all represented by RMT solicitors Kaim Todner, had been discontinued owing to a lack of continuity in the log numbers relating to the evidence of the camera at Kingskerswell. Despite this, proceedings were brought against Paul. Like the five other drivers before him, Paul complained of passengers standing up as the bus approaches the junction in order to alight at the stop on the other side of the junction. Paul complained that the situation leaves the driver with the decision whether to apply the brakes hard as the lights begin to change, and risking injury to the passengers, or drive through the lights changing from amber to red. RMT rep Danny Ferguson has been campaigning to have the bus stop moved by the local council to prevent passengers getting up from their seats before the junction. Nova Murray, head of the RMT Department at Kaim Todner, agreed that consideration should be given to the movement of the bus stop “to prevent drivers being placed in this difficult position in the future”. Paul attended court on several occasions and it became clear that the Crown Prosecution Service had not properly reviewed the case. Written representations were made by Kaim Todner to the CPS asking that they review their file and decide whether or not to continue the prosecution. Kaim Todner argued that Paul had been driving his bus below the speed limit and had only gone through the red light just 1.1 seconds after it turned from amber to red. Representations also included the difficulty faced by bus drivers in relation to the stop positioned after the junction. Just days before Paul was to stand trial, Kaim Todner received a notice that the CPS no longer wished to proceed. Kaim Todner continues to represent a seventh driver summonsed for two alleged offences the same set of lights and pressure will be put for an early decision as to whether it is in anybody's interest to proceed. A sixth RMT bus driver accused of driving through a red-light at the infamous Jury's Corner, Devon – previously featured in RMT News – has finally had proceedings discontinued against him SOLIDARITY: Local RMT members turned out to give solidarity support to catering workers sacked by Gate Gourmet last month. RMT Shows Solidarity