Bristol bus driver 'used vehicle as weapon'

CatFromHue

Pretty much what the headline says! Watch the clip on the link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17063165

A bus driver who knocked a cyclist off his bike in Bristol using his bus "as a weapon" has been jailed for 17 months.

Gavin Hill, 29, from Frome in Somerset, was convicted at Bristol Crown Court of dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm.

The court was told Hill deliberately knocked Phillip Mead down after the pair had an altercation. Mr Mead suffered a broken leg.

Sentencing Hill, Judge Mark Horton said the collision "was not an accident".

JCDUB

Good enough for him, pity he only got 17 months. In some jurisdictions that would be considered attempted murder :mad:

Weylin

the total wanker on the bike had a previous altercation with the bus driver, so decide to cycle directly in front of the bus and force it go slow/stop.he got what he deserved,total bollix. (the driver should have waited another few meters and mashed the scumbag against the concrete bollards.)

mp31

Just saw the vid and all I can say is :eek:

17 months is waaay to lenient IMO.

rollingscone

Weylin wrote: »

the total wanker on the bike had a previous altercation with the bus driver, so decide to cycle directly in front of the bus and force it go slow/stop.he got what he deserved,total bollix. (the driver should have waited another few meters and mashed the scumbag against the concrete bollards.)

Would you like some salt and vinegar on that chip?

I just hope that no one applies your standard of behaviour and tries to break your legs for your annoying post....

Chips Lovell

Troll carded. We can get back on topic folks.

Sunnyisland

That was some smack the cyclist got, No need for that at all at all.

funnights74

Insane, that was attempted murder!! And fair dues to the cyclist at the junction who turned and went to help out if it was needed, just the one good samaritan.

Moflojo

That's a pretty scary video, driver obviously lost the rag completely!

Sentence does seem a bit leniant I have to agree. Surely a bus, if being used as a weapon against a human, counts as a LETHAL weapon?

Hmmzis

Wow, only 17 months for that? Did he at least get his licence confiscated for longer? People like that should not be allowed to operate dangerous machinery in public places.

the_syco

http://digitalhen.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17066798

The court was told the incident started on the morning of 5 April 2011 when Hill had driven too close to Mr Mead on the nearby St James Barton roundabout.

Moments later the bus stopped outside Bristol Magistrates' Court and Mr Mead propped his bike against the front of the vehicle.

He continued to argue with Hill, who remained in his cab.

The court was played CCTV footage which showed Mr Mead cycle off. Moments later the footage shows the bus overtaking him before sharply swerving to the left knocking the cyclist

With a temper like that, he should be disqualified from driving for a lot longer than two and a half years!

monument

Two days ago in in the evening at rush hour I was cycling from Westmoreland Street on to Aston Quay and there was a mass of pedestrians as usually breaking the red light when myself and at least two buses were turning left. Slowly going by the pedestrians with bell ringing and, then I was starting to pick up speed clearing the junction, I was feeling sorry for the bus driver behind me stuck trying to pass the pedestrians. The Wellington Quay incident flashed in my head (I was in one of the building beside the bus stop when it happened and I don't think I'm going to lose the memory of that day any time soon). Bus drivers must have to put up with a lot I was thinking,

Foolish me for worrying about him.

I'm now up around where Virgin used to be and in the inside traffic lane (bus lane here is nearly always bus parking). The bus driver picks ups speed as I had and then he passes me out fairly closely -- a problem in it self, but not that massive of a one. Next he starts pulling in on top of me to the extent that I can touch side window of the bus, before the back rear facing seats! I have to break and move in.

He overtook where there was no reason to so and where there was a lack of space to do so without pushing in on top of me. Worst still he does all of this only to reach a line of traffic and have to stop just 100m or less ahead and the outside lane was also clear -- so he could have just went into and stayed in that until after he had passed me out. I had lights on (good ones), the street lights are bright there, conditions were good and he clearly seen me (as he did overtake, even if it was short of what it should have been).

I can't believe this had just happened so I go to the doors and challenge him -- for some reason he starts ranting about my earphones (I had one in one ear, on down low). This somehow has something to do with him driving a near 20 ton bus in on top of me. I had seen him and I was even foolishly having pity for him having to deal with the people breaking the red man light.

It really felt like he was trying to punish me or teach me a lesson for not moving it (there was no point, it was another few seconds and I'd have to pull out where the buses ahead were or where the road narrows ahead of that) or maybe he was trying to punish me for the having one earphone in? Or for what the pedestrians did?

For the record, but it should not matter: I usually try to wait behind buses when they looking like they are pulling off from a stop, for example going up Parnell Square or on O'Connell Street, I'll often stop to let bus drivers move off. I'd also like to make it clear that the vast majority of drivers from Dublin Bus drivers I usually come across is good (and some of it is even excellent!).

torturedsoul

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102245/Bus-driver-used-vehicle-weapon-ram-cyclist-road.html

Crazy video on the above link of a bus driver in Bristol loosing his rag with a cyclist.

Now I am by no means excusing the Bus driver, but to be fair the Cyclist should not have deliberately ridden his bike in the middle of the road intentionally slowing up all the traffic behind.

Listen im a cyclist for years and I know I have every right to be on the road, hence why I do and why I also stop at every RED light and obey the rules of the road. But there is nothing worse than a righteous cyclist. Not to mention Red light breakers.

I know the trials and tribulations we suffer from the frightening number of drivers on the road. I'm totally Pro-cyclist in that argument (stressing again that I am one). But if a cyclist is also acting the ARS*H*L* on the road, then it lessens our right to be there.

RANT OVER.

Personally I think 17 months for the bus driver was too lenient, considering he could have killed the guy.

DirkVoodoo

News just in...man argues with himself over internet.

In other news, Buzz Aldrin yells at the moon.

fatmammycat

Why on earth would somebody else acting like an idiot lesson our rights to be on the road? I drive and cycle, like most folk I imagine. Other people's behaviour don't alter my right to be on the road.

Mint Sauce

torturedsoul wrote: »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102245/Bus-driver-used-vehicle-weapon-ram-cyclist-road.html

Crazy video on the above link of a bus driver in Bristol loosing his rag with a cyclist.

Now I am by no means excusing the Bus driver, but to be fair the Cyclist should not have deliberately ridden his bike in the middle of the road intentionally slowing up all the traffic behind.

Listen im a cyclist for years and I know I have every right to be on the road, hence why I do and why I also stop at every RED light and obey the rules of the road. But there is nothing worse than a righteous cyclist. Not to mention Red light breakers.

I know the trials and tribulations we suffer from the frightening number of drivers on the road. I'm totally Pro-cyclist in that argument (stressing again that I am one). But if a cyclist is also acting the ARS*H*L* on the road, then it lessens our right to be there.

RANT OVER.

Personally I think 17 months for the bus driver was too lenient, considering he could have killed the guy.

Absolutly shocking behaviour from the bus driver, deserved a heck of a lot mire than 17 months. But not sure if the cyclist was intentionally holding up traffic. The cyclist is waiting in front of the bus at the lights (possibly at an advance stop line, theres one of these at the next lights), and looks like he's trying to make the right turn lane at the next lights, hence moving over the road.

I know my self I dont wait at lights side by side of another vehicle, and rarely see other cyclist do this who stop at lights, mainly due to get pinned by traffic when the lights do change.

Beasty

Threads merged

Beasty

rp

the_syco wrote: »

http://digitalhen.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17066798

With a temper like that, he should be disqualified from driving for a lot longer than two and a half years!

There's a good case for psychological testing of PSV drivers (if not all drivers), like they have in Poland. I think Oz used to have this for taxi drivers, and have had increased problems since it was discontinued.

Paul Kiernan

In this country it would appear that if you have a genuine grievance against somebody you're quite entitled to run them down and cause serious injury.

Chips Lovell

An attitude that appears to be backed up by popular opinion. This was post of the day a couple of days ago.

Dermot Illogical

torturedsoul wrote: »

Now I am by no means excusing the Bus driver, but to be fair the Cyclist should not have deliberately ridden his bike in the middle of the road intentionally slowing up all the traffic behind.

I do that to drivers who cut me off for no reason, or who overtake too close. If someone has done that to you and you catch/overtake them in traffic, why on earth would you want to give them the opportunity again?
I can totally understand the cyclist's point of view. The bus passed way too close previously, so it makes sense not to allow the muppet do it again.

torturedsoul

fatmammycat wrote: »

Why on earth would somebody else acting like an idiot lesson our rights to be on the road? I drive and cycle, like most folk I imagine. Other people's behaviour don't alter my right to be on the road.

What the driver did is not what i am talking about in this particular part of my post.

What i am saying, in a strange tangent, from the horrific incident, is that if cyclists act like righteous ARS*H*L*S by cycling deliberately out in front of vehicles, when there is more than enough room on the left hand side of the road. Than those actions and actions like breaking red lights, not looking out for pedestrians, flying out of junctions, cycling on footpaths etc etc lesson our right to fight for parity on the roads.

And believe me I know it goes both ways. I have been on the receiving end of some scumbags abusing me because I am on a bike. But I am more than able to fight my corner and stand up for myself while showing consideration for other road users.

By doing something that could be seen as provocative and potentially dangerous, this just gives other road users more ammo to fire at you. They already believe (wrongly) that we are a nusiance. worrying this mentality is seen in the other thread posted here where people believe the bus driver should be given a medal.

Christ all i am trying to say is that we have every right to be in jungle just like lions but you are not going to go up and start poking all of them in the eye.

torturedsoul

RT66 wrote: »

I do that to drivers who cut me off for no reason, or who overtake too close. If someone has done that to you and you catch/overtake them in traffic, why on earth would you want to give them the opportunity again?
I can totally understand the cyclist's point of view. The bus passed way too close previously, so it makes sense not to allow the muppet do it again.

I just start instructing them of the road traffic act. rather than force my go slow actions on the rest of the drivers behind the, said muppet, who are innocent and should not reep what the driver infront has sown for himself.

monument

torturedsoul wrote: »

I just start instructing them of the road traffic act. rather than force my go slow actions on the rest of the drivers behind the, said muppet, who are innocent and should not reep what the driver infront has sown for himself.

torturedsoul

monument wrote: »

Why so confused? Think its pretty obvious what I am saying here.
Why start pissing off all the other drivers when you are already tackling one already

Dermot Illogical

torturedsoul wrote: »

I just start instructing them of the road traffic act. rather than force my go slow actions on the rest of the drivers behind the, said muppet, who are innocent and should not reep what the driver infront has sown for himself.

I'm generally going close enough to (if not above) their speed limit not to worry about it. I wouldn't go out and take the road to slow anyone down, but I will do it to protect myself.
Of course I might alter my techniques if I ever find myself cycling around Bristol..

kincsem

In my motorcycle days it was common for drivers to deliberately (they would say accidently) hit/nudge/push you.

One incident was in stopped traffic in Donnybrook. A bus driver drove his bus slowly against my bike. I looked back. He was laughing.

Another incident was in Gardiner Street. At the time An Post workers were a bit upset at the number of couriers "taking their business". A car deliberately nudged my motorcycle pannier when we were travelling at about 50 kph. My guess was he saw the panniers and assumed I was a courier.

Nice to see a jail sentence that means jail time.

gbee

Whilst it was obvious, why was the cyclist chasing the bus.

What lane should the bus have been in? I can see the bus change lane as if to turn to its right, then we see the cyclist, dangerously close to the bus as if he followed the bus across the lane.

Then the bus driver lost it.

droidus

gbee wrote: »

Whilst it was obvious, why was the cyclist chasing the bus.

What lane should the bus have been in? I can see the bus change lane as if to turn to its right, then we see the cyclist, dangerously close to the bus as if he followed the bus across the lane.

Then the bus driver lost it.

Sorry to point out the blindingly obvious, but the cyclist had no control over how close the bus drove behind him, it's the bus driver who was 'dangerously close'. If he wanted to decrease the level of danger he should have slowed down and allowed the cyclist to pull away.

Also, if youre 'chasing' someone it means that you're behind them. In this case the bus was behind the cyclist up until the moment he rammed him off the road.

gbee

droidus wrote: »

Also, if youre 'chasing' someone it means that your'e behind them. In this case the bus was behind the cyclist up until the moment he rammed him off the road.

I've had to look again. The cyclist was in front of the bus as you say, but then the bus changed lanes ~ was it supposed to? and as he does so, the cyclist veeres in front of the bus [again] ~ a collision was inevitable anyway, from what I can see.

Admittedly the driver just lost his cool and ensured a collision took place, the judge, in his light sentencing, suspects mitigating circumstances.

But for me to make my mid up any further, I'd need to know where the bus should have been and where the cyclist should have been. And I don't know that.

droidus

A collision was not inevitable. If someone is driving, walking or cycling slowly or erratically in front of me when Im in the car, I slow down and or stop to avoid the possibility of a collision.

Even if the cyclist had been riding a unicycle at 1mph, the bus driver had no right to run him off the road. There is no justification.

Diarmuid

gbee wrote: »

I've had to look again. ... a collision was inevitable anyway, from what I can see.

Should have gone to SpecSavers

gbee

Diarmuid wrote: »

Should have gone to SpecSavers

That makes three people at least, me the cyclist and the bus driver.

When I first looked at the video, I did not see the cyclist in front of the bus, nonetheless, his actions were inflammatory and he met a driver who exploded.

Going to SpecSavers is a good idea too though, they have a sale on currently.

coolbeans

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

An attitude that appears to be backed up by popular opinion. This was post of the day a couple of days ago.

The fact that that got post of the day scares me, in fact it scares me a hell of a lot.
Driver education as to the status of cyclists is very badly needed. ****in' RSA with their bull**** about yellow jackets precluding the real issues.

Dermot Illogical

gbee wrote: »

I've had to look again. The cyclist was in front of the bus as you say, but then the bus changed lanes ~ was it supposed to? and as he does so, the cyclist veeres in front of the bus [again] ~ a collision was inevitable anyway, from what I can see.

Admittedly the driver just lost his cool and ensured a collision took place, the judge, in his light sentencing, suspects mitigating circumstances.

But for me to make my mid up any further, I'd need to know where the bus should have been and where the cyclist should have been. And I don't know that.

Do you drive? I'm hoping the answer is no if you're having this much trouble understanding something so straightforward. :pac:

gbee

RT66 wrote: »

Do you drive? I'm hoping the answer is no if you're having this much trouble understanding something so straightforward. :pac:

To me, at one point is looked like the driver has to swerve to avoid the cyclist. Then the cyclist engaged the bus in a duel.

Stark

torturedsoul wrote: »

Now I am by no means excusing the Bus driver, but to be fair the Cyclist should not have deliberately ridden his bike in the middle of the road intentionally slowing up all the traffic behind.

I thought so too but he could easily have been trying to take the right turn that was just coming up. (He should have indicated, but then if I ran everyone who didn't indicate off the road...).

rich.d.berry

gbee wrote: »

To me, at one point is looked like the driver has to swerve to avoid the cyclist. Then the cyclist engaged the bus in a duel.

The reason the bus driver swerved is because he got too close to the cyclist. He should never have been that close to the cyclist before attempting the pass. The aggressive driving is from the bus driver.

The cyclist never left his lane. He did make a move to his right, but so what? I've often had motorists make moves on me when passing, to indicate that they want me out of their way. That would not give me any justification if I caught up with them again and smashed their wing mirror or kicked their door. Retaliation should never be justified.

seamus

gbee wrote: »

To me, at one point is looked like the driver has to swerve to avoid the cyclist. Then the cyclist engaged the bus in a duel.

Actually it looks fairly straightforward in the video. There was an argument and then the cyclist hops on his bike and cycles away down the centre of the left-hand lane. Petty? Maybe. But then if I'd just had a row with a bus driver, I wouldn't be inclined to put myself in a position where he could overtake me closely and squish me into the kerb; especially in this scenario when there's another lane the bus can use to overtake.

The bus driver then follows him and drives right up behind him. Realising that it's not having the desired effect he then indicates right as if to move into the right-hand lane and overtake, but before he's completed the manouver he swerves left and uses 10 tonnes of metal send the cyclist flying about 5m across the road.

At best you could say that the cyclist moved marginally right in his lane when the bus started to overtake, but I don't see any swerving from the cyclist in the video.

gbee

rich.d.berry wrote: »

Retaliation should never be justified.

You know what, tell that to the judge. 17 months for this offence is getting off pretty lightly. The judge has spoken.

There are so many other factors that I don't know, like how many times this cyclist annoyed this bus driver over the years. And many more questions that the judge probably heard in evidence.

Dermot Illogical

gbee wrote: »

To me, at one point is looked like the driver has to swerve to avoid the cyclist. Then the cyclist engaged the bus in a duel.

At no point did he have to swerve to avoid anyone. The cyclist is in front of him until the bus overtakes. Remove the blinkers perhaps?
Some of the reports I've read about the incident reference the previous altercation being as a result of the bus passing too close earlier on. If this is true, then the cyclist was correct in trying to hold the road.

AstraMonti

gbee wrote: »

You know what, tell that to the judge. 17 months for this offence is getting off pretty lightly. The judge has spoken.

There are so many other factors that I don't know, like how many times this cyclist annoyed this bus driver over the years. And many more questions that the judge probably heard in evidence.

What are you on about? Since when "annoyment" justifies anything like that?

droidus

seamus wrote: »

Actually it looks fairly straightforward in the video. There was an argument and then the cyclist hops on his bike and cycles away down the centre of the left-hand lane. Petty? Maybe. But then if I'd just had a row with a bus driver, I wouldn't be inclined to put myself in a position where he could overtake me closely and squish me into the kerb; especially in this scenario when there's another lane the bus can use to overtake.

The bus driver then follows him and drives right up behind him. Realising that it's not having the desired effect he then indicates right as if to move into the right-hand lane and overtake, but before he's completed the manouver he swerves left and uses 10 tonnes of metal send the cyclist flying about 5m across the road.

At best you could say that the cyclist moved marginally right in his lane when the bus started to overtake, but I don't see any swerving from the cyclist in the video.

:rolleyes: Its clear by the cyclists minuscule movement to the right that he was recklessly challenging the bus driver to a duel to the death. He was a detonator and the bus driver was a pound of semtex, who knows how often the cyclist had mercilessly taunted bus drivers in the past... etc... etc...

rich.d.berry

Stark wrote: »

I thought so too but he could easily have been trying to take the right turn that was just coming up. (He should have indicated, but then if I ran everyone who didn't indicate off the road...).

Do you really think that there is sufficient space in the lane for the bus to pass the cyclist without changing lane?

My opinion, supported by many training programs such as BikeSafe and also agrees with advice given by BikeRadar, is that the cyclist was correctly positioned in primary position because there was insufficient space to be passed safely in lane.

Had the cyclist entered the bus stop area on his left he would have been in trouble re-entering the lane slightly further ahead, especially as he would have to compete with all the other traffic behind the bus as well.

It is entirely possible that the cyclist had the altercation with the bus driver because he'd been previously squeezed and the lane position he holds thereafter is to stop it from happening again. This would also explain why he would move to the right to prevent an in-lane pass from happening again.

Dermot Illogical

gbee wrote: »

You know what, tell that to the judge. 17 months for this offence is getting off pretty lightly. The judge has spoken.

There are so many other factors that I don't know, like how many times this cyclist annoyed this bus driver over the years. And many more questions that the judge probably heard in evidence.

While I agree with you on the getting off lightly thing, it's probably more to do with leniency of sentencing in general rather than a result of any mitigating circumstances.
That said, for a first offence committed by an otherwise upstanding citizen, it's quite a stiff sentence.

Surveyor11

Weylin wrote: »

the total wanker on the bike had a previous altercation with the bus driver, so decide to cycle directly in front of the bus and force it go slow/stop.he got what he deserved,total bollix. (the driver should have waited another few meters and mashed the scumbag against the concrete bollards.)

Nice, so am I right in thinking in your trodlodtye world that an altercation gives free reign to amost murder someone with a bus? Get yerself checked out man

Chips Lovell

@Surveyor11. That post has already been dealt with by the mods. No need to keep it going.

Rob A. Bank

According to a Bristol news source http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Road-rage-bus-driver-used-vehicle-weapon-jailed/story-15246838-detail/story.html

"Gavin Hill got into a heated exchange with rider Phillip Mead after cutting in front of him onto St James Barton roundabout.

After an altercation in which the cyclist parked his bike against the front of the bus and tugged at one of its windscreen wipers, Hill pulled out to overtake the bike before lurching sharp left, knocking Mr Mead into the road."

So the bus driver was taking a second cut at the cyclist when he maimed him !

A very lenient sentence IMHO.

le petit braquet

gbee wrote: »

You know what, tell that to the judge. 17 months for this offence is getting off pretty lightly. The judge has spoken.

There are so many other factors that I don't know, like how many times this cyclist annoyed this bus driver over the years. And many more questions that the judge probably heard in evidence.

The judge also said that the bus driver used his bus as a weapon so why not also accept his opinion on that. Also the "light" sentence was also a result of an early guilty plea - even the bus driver fessed up to it being a deliberate action on his part.

doozerie

I'm not sure what's worse, the bus driver doing what he did or the attempts by some people to mitigate, or in the worst cases to actually justify, what he did by arguing that he had reasonable grounds for it. If we all reacted to conflict in the extremely malevolent way that bus driver did then the roads (and anywhere for that matter) would be an extremely dangerous place to be for everyone, not just for cyclists - good luck to those who seem determined to argue in favour of such a scenario 'cos you'll be right there in that firing line too alongside the rest of us.

droidus

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2056551764