Brighton man fighting for life after being hit by bus (From The Argus)

Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

My thoughts and prayers are with this man and his family..
Hurstwood park Neurosciences centre- my brother was treated there recently with severe brain damage after a fall, they said it was one of the worst injuries they'd seen but he has since made an incredible recovery. This is the best place he could have been taken to. Ill be thinking of you all, stay strong. h brandson

Hardly surprising. You see near misses regulary at this junction since the redesign and with the new style, pointless traffic lights. Perhaps the council will do something about it now.

Hardly surprising. You see near misses regulary at this junction since the redesign and with the new style, pointless traffic lights. Perhaps the council will do something about it now.

Hardly surprising. You see near misses regulary at this junction since the redesign and with the new style, pointless traffic lights. Perhaps the council will do something about it now.

Sorry for the chap injured but how can someone say that there are too many buses? Defies belief such a statement!!

Tailgaters Anonymous wrote:
Sorry for the chap injured but how can someone say that there are too many buses? Defies belief such a statement!!

It's the buses paradox. If a bus knocks someone over or a new bus lane is created it's because there is way too many. If the less used lines are closed or people have to wait two extra minutes in the stop, then there's not enough.

Morpheus wrote:
Hardly surprising. You see near misses regulary at this junction since the redesign and with the new style, pointless traffic lights. Perhaps the council will do something about it now.

the lights are pointless as so many people don't seem to realise they are there,if you sit and watch this junction it's shocking how many people walk straight out,hopefully the council will do something,maybe put in an alarm system,best wishes to the injured gentleman and hoping he recovers soon

While we don't yet know the cause of the accident, I do hope the council actually listen to the comments about the new style crossings.
They are impossible to use safely. You cannot see the box telling you to cross as it's on the post next to you which is usually obscured by crowds of people.
It only takes a few people to become impatient and start crossing for the whole group to cross because they think the green man has become lit when in fact the red man is still lit. If you watch this behaviour it happens at every single crossing and inevitably you see people running as cars start heading towards them and for older or less mobile folk its downright dangerous.
These were introduced by the council who stated that the boxes encourage people to look in the direction of the traffic as they are situated on the post on the side from which the traffic comes.
This is just plain stupid as you cannot see the bloody box because these crossings are so busy. Put the green/red man back on the opposite side of the road, high up where it's safe and visible to every individual.

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
While we don't yet know the cause of the accident, I do hope the council actually listen to the comments about the new style crossings.
They are impossible to use safely. You cannot see the box telling you to cross as it's on the post next to you which is usually obscured by crowds of people.
It only takes a few people to become impatient and start crossing for the whole group to cross because they think the green man has become lit when in fact the red man is still lit. If you watch this behaviour it happens at every single crossing and inevitably you see people running as cars start heading towards them and for older or less mobile folk its downright dangerous.
These were introduced by the council who stated that the boxes encourage people to look in the direction of the traffic as they are situated on the post on the side from which the traffic comes.
This is just plain stupid as you cannot see the bloody box because these crossings are so busy. Put the green/red man back on the opposite side of the road, high up where it's safe and visible to every individual.

Well said. The removal of the box on the opposite side of the crossing makes these "new improved" sites much more dangerous. We don't know the cause yet, but I too have seen many near misses here - many from a bus.

Hope that the man recovers and that the bus driver/passengers/wi
tnesses are OK

I have no idea what the particular circumstances were for this unfortunate incident. However, regarding the wider issue of bus/pedestrian conflict at these busy crossings, the problem seems to be impatience for the lights to change. I think introucing countdown timers so people know exactly when the green man will appear would help - as in many other countries and Oxford Circus in London

Pitviper wrote:
Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

Buses going through red lights? Are you SERIOUS? That is a big charge!

Pitviper wrote:
Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

Buses going through red lights? Are you SERIOUS? That is a big charge!

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
While we don't yet know the cause of the accident, I do hope the council actually listen to the comments about the new style crossings.
They are impossible to use safely. You cannot see the box telling you to cross as it's on the post next to you which is usually obscured by crowds of people.
It only takes a few people to become impatient and start crossing for the whole group to cross because they think the green man has become lit when in fact the red man is still lit. If you watch this behaviour it happens at every single crossing and inevitably you see people running as cars start heading towards them and for older or less mobile folk its downright dangerous.
These were introduced by the council who stated that the boxes encourage people to look in the direction of the traffic as they are situated on the post on the side from which the traffic comes.
This is just plain stupid as you cannot see the bloody box because these crossings are so busy. Put the green/red man back on the opposite side of the road, high up where it's safe and visible to every individual.

They put the SAME pedestrian crossing system into place Sackville Rd/Clarendon Villas/Portland Road and it is LETHAL. Nobody uses it. Never jaywalked so much in my life. Ludicrous system.

The highways department in BHCC needs a serious overhaul ! Fact.

I'm submitting an epetition right now which I hope will be supported well. This side access pedestrian signal system has got to go. Enough already. This accident is the last straw for me.

The new-style pedestrian lights are useless and probably thought up by someone who thought it was a good idea in theory. In practice, they create unnecessary risks because, as others have pointed out, you only need a few people by the post and most people can't see whether the light is red or green.

As to the North Street/Steine junction, how many people have been knocked over there by buses over the last few years? A redesign is needed - but that's been said for as long as I can remember. I'd prefer our money to be put into that rather than the plethora of expensive granite curb lifts that are appearing all over the place in the Lanes.

At primary school I remember watching videos about crossing the road safety at a pelican crossing. The conventional crossing, with the red or green man visible on the other side of the road is hard wired in most people. The new lights, with the red or green man on the same side of the road to the left of thepedestrian are absurd - if there's someone stood in front of it it's not even visible, and there's no bleeping for blind people either! I can't comment on the circumstances of this accident but the Old Steine - North St crossing is lethal since the new style of were installed.

saveHOVE wrote:

Pitviper wrote: Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

Buses going through red lights? Are you SERIOUS? That is a big charge!

Yes I'm SERIOUS, I see it happen all too frequently, buses also block the hatched markings at the clock tower too, I've given up calling the bus company and telling what's happened as it appears nothing is being done.

While I accept the comments about the positioning of the "Green Man" I wonder if these sets of lights have the audible signal to indicate to blind people that it is safe to cross? I also accept that some people are deaf so they have a double problem.

Not the first and certainly won't be the last. Watch Brighton and Hove buses deny any responsibility though.

I bet he drove straight at him I see it all the time the buses drive at people like a mad man there crazy

About time Roger French done something for a change instead of keep sticking up for these road raged loonys!!!

lillylou wrote:
I bet he drove straight at him I see it all the time the buses drive at people like a mad man there crazy

do you fancy backing up that accusation with proof

Dealing with idiots wrote:
Not the first and certainly won't be the last. Watch Brighton and Hove buses deny any responsibility though.

They would deny responsibility obviously if it were found not to be the fault of the driver. All the B&H buses have internal camera's and external ones now, so in all probability this tragic accident was caught on camera. Therefore the facts will be there for the investigation that will now follow.
I am always amazed how many pedestrians walk out in front of buses, in the centre of town with a near suicidal intent. (almost as incredulous as the cyclists without lights now it's getting darker)
Why is it so many comments on this website are so anti B&H buses......the service is excellent as far as I can see. What is it that these people want...the removal of the bus service...and then what?

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
While we don't yet know the cause of the accident, I do hope the council actually listen to the comments about the new style crossings.
They are impossible to use safely. You cannot see the box telling you to cross as it's on the post next to you which is usually obscured by crowds of people.
It only takes a few people to become impatient and start crossing for the whole group to cross because they think the green man has become lit when in fact the red man is still lit. If you watch this behaviour it happens at every single crossing and inevitably you see people running as cars start heading towards them and for older or less mobile folk its downright dangerous.
These were introduced by the council who stated that the boxes encourage people to look in the direction of the traffic as they are situated on the post on the side from which the traffic comes.
This is just plain stupid as you cannot see the bloody box because these crossings are so busy. Put the green/red man back on the opposite side of the road, high up where it's safe and visible to every individual.

Agree totally. These new crossings are crazy. And no audible signal!! (unless I can't hear it).

I hate using them and usually choose to cross the road away from them when I can in town.

Just submitted this new BHCC website epetition. Please sign when it is uploaded:

title:
Side-view Pedestrian crossing lights

Petition:
We ask the council to rethink its roll-out of side-view only pedestrian crossing lights and to find a safer, more reasonable system or to reinstate forward-view (across the road) pedestrian crossing lights in the name of logic and safety!

Argument:
Attempts at retraining people to STOP looking forward for pedestrian green lights before crossing the street is not working out. It is unnatural and sometimes too difficult to look down to the side for the pedestrian light and what colour it is.

Asking pedestrians to 'find' the side-view pedestrian light in order to see it when a lot of people are stood on the pavement obscuring view of it is unreasonable and many do not do it. They walk if they think no vehicle is coming.

Elderly people and disabled people struggle to swivel about to look at these lights and risk losing footing when turning back again to walk across the road, even if they DO engage with these pavement-mounted, side-view lights.

At the side-view installation points in Sackville Road (with Portland Road and with Blatchington Road and with Clarendon Villas jaywalking has become the norm.

Pedestrians are using this identical pedestrian light signal system at the North Street intersection with the Steine in the same way as at Sackville Road and hazard is now worse than before for pedestrians, cyclists and those driving a vehicle. As it is a busier intersection, side-view, pedestrian light visibility is even more awkwad to access.

Please take out these lights and think again in the interests of public pedestrian safety.

And doing a paper version of this petition - standing at one of these lethal junctions needs doing too!

gaz scott wrote:

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
While we don't yet know the cause of the accident, I do hope the council actually listen to the comments about the new style crossings.
They are impossible to use safely. You cannot see the box telling you to cross as it's on the post next to you which is usually obscured by crowds of people.
It only takes a few people to become impatient and start crossing for the whole group to cross because they think the green man has become lit when in fact the red man is still lit. If you watch this behaviour it happens at every single crossing and inevitably you see people running as cars start heading towards them and for older or less mobile folk its downright dangerous.
These were introduced by the council who stated that the boxes encourage people to look in the direction of the traffic as they are situated on the post on the side from which the traffic comes.
This is just plain stupid as you cannot see the bloody box because these crossings are so busy. Put the green/red man back on the opposite side of the road, high up where it's safe and visible to every individual.

Agree totally. These new crossings are crazy. And no audible signal!! (unless I can't hear it).

I hate using them and usually choose to cross the road away from them when I can in town.

Agree with the comments about the crossings, problem is lots of people blatently ignore the crossings.

As a junction between North Street and the Old Steine doesn't exist, because Castle Square is between the two I was wondering exactly where and how the accident happened.

I have no idea what happened. I wasn't there at the time and have only heard the story 3rd hand.
Therefore I am perfectly placed to comment on the culpability of those involved..... :D

s_james wrote:
I have no idea what the particular circumstances were for this unfortunate incident. However, regarding the wider issue of bus/pedestrian conflict at these busy crossings, the problem seems to be impatience for the lights to change. I think introucing countdown timers so people know exactly when the green man will appear would help - as in many other countries and Oxford Circus in London

Fully agree; having just returned from NYC then I feel these are the most practical solution.

Those who are visually challenged and/or challenged with numbers and understanding the countdown will have the audible signal to assist.

I would point out that the story says the gentleman is 63, hardly a youth likely to be dashing out into traffic.

https://www.gov.uk/u
sing-the-road-159-to
-203/road-junctions-
170-to-183

Read the rules above and see how many the so-called professional drivers ( bus and taxi ) break every day.

In all likelihood the pedestrian had priority and the bus driver actively sped up towards him hoping he would jump out of the way ( I have seen this on SEVERAL occasions ) to me that dangerous driving / assault with a deadly weapon.

And finally, yes the "new" style pedestrian junctions increase the danger rather than reduce it.

Pitviper wrote:

saveHOVE wrote:

Pitviper wrote: Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

Buses going through red lights? Are you SERIOUS? That is a big charge!

Yes I'm SERIOUS, I see it happen all too frequently, buses also block the hatched markings at the clock tower too, I've given up calling the bus company and telling what's happened as it appears nothing is being done.

Buses are not the only vehicles to run red lights and it's not confined to one bus company.
A Big Lemon bus was pulled over by the police for running a red light last month.

Tel Scoomer wrote:

Pitviper wrote:

saveHOVE wrote:

Pitviper wrote: Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

Buses going through red lights? Are you SERIOUS? That is a big charge!

Yes I'm SERIOUS, I see it happen all too frequently, buses also block the hatched markings at the clock tower too, I've given up calling the bus company and telling what's happened as it appears nothing is being done.

Buses are not the only vehicles to run red lights and it's not confined to one bus company.
A Big Lemon bus was pulled over by the police for running a red light last month.

This is not to imply blame on the part of the bus driver on this occasion as we don't yet know the full picture. The pedestrian may have stepped out without looking or been confused by the poorly designed pedestrian lights.

why dont people just wait for the lights to change for them instead of all the fuss they are making,its not as if you will stand there all day and to say bus drivers drive straight at people what an accusation that is.!!! glad i dont think like that!!!

why dont people just wait for the lights to change for them instead of all the fuss they are making,its not as if you will stand there all day and to say bus drivers drive straight at people what an accusation that is.!!! glad i dont think like that!!!

why dont people just wait for the lights to change for them instead of all the fuss they are making,its not as if you will stand there all day and to say bus drivers drive straight at people what an accusation that is.!!! glad i dont think like that!!!

what a surprise, the 'blame the bus driver' brigade are out with their stupid comments again. we don't know the circumstances of this incident, other than a person and a bus came into contact with each other. there is nothing saying the bus ran a red light, nor is there anything to suggest that the man walked out against a red man. with the amount of traffic about, i find it incredible someone could even suggest that the bus was speeding, or even driving directly at pedestrians ( a very serious charge indeed). we all have a responsibility for our own safety, and if we walk out into the road, we must ensure it is safe to do so. too many people do not have the patience to wait, and risk their lives every day, dodging between the traffic. large vehicles take much longer to stop than cars, so need to be given more time. do not place blame without evidence!!!!!!!!!

It wasn't you who drove straight through the give way on Western Road at me was it? I had the right of way but the driver ignored the give way lines and sped up directly at me.

I see dangerous examples of driving exhibited by bus drivers in Brighton EVERY DAY. This to note is MY EXPERIENCE not hearsay. I will repeat EVERY DAY downright agressive / dangerous / illegal moves are pulled by drivers using their bus as a weapon towards more vulnerable road users.

spa301 wrote:

Dealing with idiots wrote:
Not the first and certainly won't be the last. Watch Brighton and Hove buses deny any responsibility though.

They would deny responsibility obviously if it were found not to be the fault of the driver. All the B&H buses have internal camera's and external ones now, so in all probability this tragic accident was caught on camera. Therefore the facts will be there for the investigation that will now follow.
I am always amazed how many pedestrians walk out in front of buses, in the centre of town with a near suicidal intent. (almost as incredulous as the cyclists without lights now it's getting darker)
Why is it so many comments on this website are so anti B&H buses......the service is excellent as far as I can see. What is it that these people want...the removal of the bus service...and then what?

They deny responsibility even when the video footage plainly shows the driver at fault. Trust me I know all too well.

Brightonian72 wrote:
It wasn't you who drove straight through the give way on Western Road at me was it? I had the right of way but the driver ignored the give way lines and sped up directly at me.

I see dangerous examples of driving exhibited by bus drivers in Brighton EVERY DAY. This to note is MY EXPERIENCE not hearsay. I will repeat EVERY DAY downright agressive / dangerous / illegal moves are pulled by drivers using their bus as a weapon towards more vulnerable road users.

if that is the case, you need to inform the bus company of this, with date, time, and bus number, otherwise no one will believe you. with those details, the company will check their cctv, and if needed, speak to the driver concerned. if you continue to moan on here, but do nothing about it, no one will believe you. i don't believe you, strangely enough, but have experienced some poor driving from bus drivers, but not on the scale you seem to.

I am a bus driver in brighton and i can confirm everytime i turn at those lights somebody walks out. And also buses do not speed round there because it is very hard to build up speed from a stopping position which invariably we are having been sitting at the North St/Old Steine lights. I have to agree the lights are not well positioned people look down see the traffic stopped then walk across forgetting about the traffic coming down North St and turning left into Old Steine. If some off you moaning about the way bus drivers drive, drove around all day like us you would see some driving so bad from other vehicles it would make you think differently. .I get so fed up with us being blamed for everything.

There are a lot of accusations being bandied around about bus drivers, followed by comments like 'trust me I know' or 'the bus company cover it up'. I'm just wondering that if these people have witnessed bad/dangerous driving by bus drivers why haven't you taken it further, than the bus company, and reported it to the police? After all lives are apparently being put at risk.

There are good and bad drivers around just as there are pedestrians that take note of the lights and those who don't.

Aside from the fact that those specific lights are a nightmare we know very little about how the accident occurred. So why are we all so determined to point the finger of blame?

Hope the gent recovers swiftly.

nothing happens when you complain to b&h more like tank drivers than proffesional's,only yesterday juction of holland road and palmeria,bus jumped the red light.
what do you expect when they have in-house instructors/examaner
s.
"they used to go to vosa for a test at lancing"where they still take hgv test.

ruberducker wrote:
nothing happens when you complain to b&h more like tank drivers than proffesional's,only yesterday juction of holland road and palmeria,bus jumped the red light.
what do you expect when they have in-house instructors/examaner

s.
"they used to go to vosa for a test at lancing"where they still take hgv test.

in house examiner is completely impartial, and fails almost as many as he passes. the instruction received is first class. i passed my test there, and actually took mine near southampton. complaints ARE taken seriously, as long as the correct information is passed on.

I walk to work down North Street regularly and have only been hit on the arm once by a bus....whilst walking on the pavement, I mean the odd bus collision doesn't harm anyone, these considerate and thoughtful drivers are given such a hard time.

Ive only had one car written off by them as well, a rear end collision which they denied of course, but in the end the poor unfortunate bus companies insurance had to pay out.


No one mention getting trams in, what a daft, stupid and thoughtless idea this would be, dont you realise these sort of things attracts tourism, increase punctuality not to mention the character of a town. And fitted with modern safety features often don't manage to run people over properly.

anyway here is some research on trams performed by Boston (US) on Trams and buses

http://www.lrta.info
/Facts/facts132.html

saveHOVE wrote:
Just submitted this new BHCC website epetition. Please sign when it is uploaded:

title:
Side-view Pedestrian crossing lights

Petition:
We ask the council to rethink its roll-out of side-view only pedestrian crossing lights and to find a safer, more reasonable system or to reinstate forward-view (across the road) pedestrian crossing lights in the name of logic and safety!

Argument:
Attempts at retraining people to STOP looking forward for pedestrian green lights before crossing the street is not working out. It is unnatural and sometimes too difficult to look down to the side for the pedestrian light and what colour it is.

Asking pedestrians to 'find' the side-view pedestrian light in order to see it when a lot of people are stood on the pavement obscuring view of it is unreasonable and many do not do it. They walk if they think no vehicle is coming.

Elderly people and disabled people struggle to swivel about to look at these lights and risk losing footing when turning back again to walk across the road, even if they DO engage with these pavement-mounted, side-view lights.

At the side-view installation points in Sackville Road (with Portland Road and with Blatchington Road and with Clarendon Villas jaywalking has become the norm.

Pedestrians are using this identical pedestrian light signal system at the North Street intersection with the Steine in the same way as at Sackville Road and hazard is now worse than before for pedestrians, cyclists and those driving a vehicle. As it is a busier intersection, side-view, pedestrian light visibility is even more awkwad to access.

Please take out these lights and think again in the interests of public pedestrian safety.

And doing a paper version of this petition - standing at one of these lethal junctions needs doing too!

Sorry for such a long requote, but to add to that the new style crossings do not have an audible beep either. How do visually impaired folks deal with them ?.


I hate the new style myself, and my mum is totally afraid to cross the road with them, especially that particular one - so much so that she will no longer visit that part of the town.

If you get hit by a bus, it's your fault. Buses do not go out of their way to hit someone & they certainly don't speed through that junction. People need to look where they're going, remember the Green Cross Code!
It's traumatising for the driver if s/he hits someone, they don't want to do it, but people just walk out in front of them.

saveHOVE wrote:
I'm submitting an epetition right now which I hope will be supported well. This side access pedestrian signal system has got to go. Enough already. This accident is the last straw for me.

Got a link? I'll sign it. Even as a driver i see all sorts of near misses on an almost daily basis there.

And for the record I always take that junction slowly and carefully as you never know when someone on their ipod is just going to walk out without looking. I would reinstate the old bus lane on the west side as that way the bues would be going much much slower. The current arrangement is just a run-up.

My thoughts are with the driver, any witnesses and the man's family at this difficult time and I really do hope he makes a full recovery.

Perhaps, we should all take more responsibility for our actions. We're human and we make mistakes. Accept it.
Obviously,Roger French and his employees do not deliberately set out to injure anyone and to suggest otherwise is clearly absurd and libelous. Playing the blame game just encourages the compensation culture. At this rate, we'll be like America's little brother before long

Brightonian72 wrote:
It wasn't you who drove straight through the give way on Western Road at me was it? I had the right of way but the driver ignored the give way lines and sped up directly at me.

I see dangerous examples of driving exhibited by bus drivers in Brighton EVERY DAY. This to note is MY EXPERIENCE not hearsay. I will repeat EVERY DAY downright agressive / dangerous / illegal moves are pulled by drivers using their bus as a weapon towards more vulnerable road users.

Not unless the give way on western road has moved to somewhere between Gatwick and Oxford.

Brightonscouse2 wrote:
There are a lot of accusations being bandied around about bus drivers, followed by comments like 'trust me I know' or 'the bus company cover it up'. I'm just wondering that if these people have witnessed bad/dangerous driving by bus drivers why haven't you taken it further, than the bus company, and reported it to the police? After all lives are apparently being put at risk.

Hear hear. Just sounds to me like trolls making up stuff out of thirteenth hand things that so-and-so said in the pub. If you see bad driving, tell the police, not the website of some local paper

Blah Blah Blah! Such a lot of rubbish written on here. I can confirm we do not "speed" around. I get paid the same if I do 1 round trip or 4, the company do not encourage people to rush, quite the opposite in fact.

The vast majority of pedestrians have a brain and manage to go about their daily business without getting injured or killed. Unfortunately, some people will wonder aimlessly into the road regardless of what the traffic lights say.

Without knowing the full facts its wrong for everyone to be blaming the driver. The police are investigating it, lets wait until the outcome of that before burning Roger French on November 5th.

Driving round this junction on a daily basis I see loads of people play chicken with the traffic. To the sad people crying about the traffic lights / green man etc, get a life?!! From the age of about 5 I managed to cross a road safely, its not hard is it? Everyone has eyes and ears - Use them!

Bendy bus god......get your **** out of the cycle lane idiot.

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
Bendy bus god......get your **** out of the cycle lane idiot.

Eh .......?? Do these new fangled traffic lights bother you then?

ghost bus driver wrote:

Brightonian72 wrote:
It wasn't you who drove straight through the give way on Western Road at me was it? I had the right of way but the driver ignored the give way lines and sped up directly at me.

I see dangerous examples of driving exhibited by bus drivers in Brighton EVERY DAY. This to note is MY EXPERIENCE not hearsay. I will repeat EVERY DAY downright agressive / dangerous / illegal moves are pulled by drivers using their bus as a weapon towards more vulnerable road users.

Not unless the give way on western road has moved to somewhere between Gatwick and Oxford.

why would it have moved there? do you think brightonian72 comes from there? there is a give way along western rd, but all i ever see is considerate driving, giving way to each other. as i said before, we all have to take responsibility for our own actions, and ensure it is safe before we cross the road

saveHOVE wrote:

Pitviper wrote:
Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

Buses going through red lights? Are you SERIOUS? That is a big charge!

I was on one yesterday. Went through the red light at Preston Circus, and then stopped at the red light just by Barclay's Bank, so sticking out into the traffic going down New England Road.

davyboy wrote:

ghost bus driver wrote:

Brightonian72 wrote:
It wasn't you who drove straight through the give way on Western Road at me was it? I had the right of way but the driver ignored the give way lines and sped up directly at me.

I see dangerous examples of driving exhibited by bus drivers in Brighton EVERY DAY. This to note is MY EXPERIENCE not hearsay. I will repeat EVERY DAY downright agressive / dangerous / illegal moves are pulled by drivers using their bus as a weapon towards more vulnerable road users.

Not unless the give way on western road has moved to somewhere between Gatwick and Oxford.

why would it have moved there? do you think brightonian72 comes from there? there is a give way along western rd, but all i ever see is considerate driving, giving way to each other. as i said before, we all have to take responsibility for our own actions, and ensure it is safe before we cross the road

No but if you were to have driven your coach at him then that's where he would have to have been...

vogon1 wrote:
Perhaps, we should all take more responsibility for our actions. We're human and we make mistakes. Accept it.
Obviously,Roger French and his employees do not deliberately set out to injure anyone and to suggest otherwise is clearly absurd and libelous. Playing the blame game just encourages the compensation culture. At this rate, we'll be like America's little brother before long

Amen. Besides. When Roger has gone next year, the haters will all be begging for his return within 6 months. Especially if the replacement is the one they call "Mac the Knife"

Petition should go live on council website Tuesday 23.10.12

Link here:
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionListDisplay.a
spx?bcr=1&TPID=42483
8

I don't know who is to blame for what happened here but all I know is I have lost two friends killed by buses in the last ten years on the Old Steine-both drivers were exonerated after investigations. Clearly there is a problem which the new crossings are not helping. I have personally seen many near misses at this particular spot as many pedestrians (especially foreigners) standing on the RBS side are unaware of the traffic turning out of Castle Square on to the Old Steine and (as has been mentioned) tend to follow those impatient people thinking that it is OK to cross. I have seen aggressive driving and speeding both as a passenger on a bus and as a pedestrian. These drivers are in the minority thankfully, but they need to change job frankly if they hate driving people around all day. Bus drivers are certainly not the only bad drivers but they are in control of a lethal weapon-you may survive being hit by a car but not a bus usually. I have also lost count of how many times I have seen foreign students whacked by bus mirrors while standing too close to the edge of the road near bus stops-I like to think it's not deliberate but I am beginning to wonder......

Why not move the crossings away from the corners say 10 metres and put railings around the corners to prevent people from crossing there. It works at the St Peters Church section of London Road.

In was on the bus that unfortunately hit this man...... There was nothing wrong with the bus or the junction or the driver, it was your normal typical bus driver friendly and comfortable when driving. I didn't actually see what happened but I heard it, the lights were green I certainly remember that, and then I heard the driver beep his horn, next thing I heard a smash and screams on the bus, nothing indicated it was anything to do with the bus, the driver or the junction. The driver was doing his job by driving... You can't blame the buses as there was just the one going past you can't blame the junction because the signals were correct, it's the polices job to find out what happened and how and they will do that their way, can't blame the council, the bus company, no one we will see what the problem is over the next few days from the police.

Please sign this epetiton on the council website if you agree that pedestrian crossing lights at this site are a problem (and the same kind elsewhere).

http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=355&RPID=5872614&
HPID=5872614&$LO$=1

Changing from looking across the road for a green pedestrian light to looking sideways on a pavement to a green pedestrian light at chest height has made for complications and reduced safety (especially if the pavement is full of people and this side-view pedestrian crossing signal is blocked by them.

Most comments on this thread are against this altered system. Please, if anyone is still coming back to look at these comments, the petition is live as of today. Content is copied into a previous post half-way up this thread.

Jake1993 wrote:
In was on the bus that unfortunately hit this man...... There was nothing wrong with the bus or the junction or the driver, it was your normal typical bus driver friendly and comfortable when driving. I didn't actually see what happened but I heard it, the lights were green I certainly remember that, and then I heard the driver beep his horn, next thing I heard a smash and screams on the bus, nothing indicated it was anything to do with the bus, the driver or the junction. The driver was doing his job by driving... You can't blame the buses as there was just the one going past you can't blame the junction because the signals were correct, it's the polices job to find out what happened and how and they will do that their way, can't blame the council, the bus company, no one we will see what the problem is over the next few days from the police.

It was one hell of a thump, heard 3 shops up. I was in one and I called the ambulance. Corner of Old Steine and Castle Square, bus.
Clearly this is a tragedy that looked bad at the scene but obviously has gone beyond initial fears.
I would urge anyone who was on the bus to talk to the police. Please. I saw one woman berating the driver a difference of opinion.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE just contact the police and tell them what you know. No matter how insignificant you may feel it is. It could just be another piece in the puzzle.
I don't think this is about fault but about ensuring it doesn't happen to someone else.
Hopefully anyone who saw what happened, reflects upon what the outcomes could be will just pause the next time they get behind a wheel.
Get there safely for all concerned.
It's all that matters.
I am not a resident of B&H but clearly those of you that are have strong feelings about this particular junction. I hope the council listen to your concerns.

robsurmer wrote:
I don't know who is to blame for what happened here but all I know is I have lost two friends killed by buses in the last ten years on the Old Steine-both drivers were exonerated after investigations. Clearly there is a problem which the new crossings are not helping. I have personally seen many near misses at this particular spot as many pedestrians (especially foreigners) standing on the RBS side are unaware of the traffic turning out of Castle Square on to the Old Steine and (as has been mentioned) tend to follow those impatient people thinking that it is OK to cross. I have seen aggressive driving and speeding both as a passenger on a bus and as a pedestrian. These drivers are in the minority thankfully, but they need to change job frankly if they hate driving people around all day. Bus drivers are certainly not the only bad drivers but they are in control of a lethal weapon-you may survive being hit by a car but not a bus usually. I have also lost count of how many times I have seen foreign students whacked by bus mirrors while standing too close to the edge of the road near bus stops-I like to think it's not deliberate but I am beginning to wonder......

A bus can kill you at 1mph if you go under the wheels.

PorkBoat wrote:

saveHOVE wrote:

Pitviper wrote: Poor chap, I hope he recovers. There are far too many buses at that junction and they are normally going too fast and through red lights. There must be a solution out there somehwere!

Buses going through red lights? Are you SERIOUS? That is a big charge!

I was on one yesterday. Went through the red light at Preston Circus, and then stopped at the red light just by Barclay's Bank, so sticking out into the traffic going down New England Road.

if it went straight through a red light i hope you took the bus number and informed the company and the police,or maybe the lights changed just as it approached the lights and the driver did'nt want to brake sharply and possibly throwing passengers around

Let's see if we can't get the council to think again about this kind of pedestrian crossing light-signal system. Please highlight this link, put it into the address bar and click to get to the epetition and sign it. I'm getting good email feedback on this. Like we have all had resentment about this bizarre crossing sysystem bottled up insight and quietly seething.

Time to get the authorities focussed on just how unfit for purpose these side-view pedestrian signal lights are.

http://present.brigh

ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP

etitionDisplay.aspx?

ID=355&RPID=5872614&

HPID=5872614&$LO$=1

Bus Drivers Drive Straight At People? They'll Deny Any Blame?
Are You People For Real?
So What about The People That Think Even Though The Man is Red it's Still Ok To Cross, That Crossing While it's a Red Man Isn't Risking Your Own Life ?
Open Your Eyes People!!
You Cannot blame the Bus Driver When He Was Going Through a Green Light, Doing His Job and Getting His Passengers To There Destination on Time!
What Ever Happened To Green Man Means Cross!
So Please Think Twice About Blaming The Bus Driver!
And as For Seeing Bus Drivers driving Straight at People all the time just shows too many People Try there Luck Crossing a Road When Not Ment to!
Point Made End Of!

Brightonian72 wrote:
It wasn't you who drove straight through the give way on Western Road at me was it? I had the right of way but the driver ignored the give way lines and sped up directly at me.

I see dangerous examples of driving exhibited by bus drivers in Brighton EVERY DAY. This to note is MY EXPERIENCE not hearsay. I will repeat EVERY DAY downright agressive / dangerous / illegal moves are pulled by drivers using their bus as a weapon towards more vulnerable road users.

You are quite correct in what you have said here, and with regard to Highway Code re giving way to pedestrians when turning into a junction, in your previous comment. I would reiterate something I have posted before; someone at the Council thinks that Buses run like Trams/Railways - so that Thick white lines THE EXACT WIDTH of a Bus somehow constrain the bus!! NO, the opposite effect happens - a pedestrian or cyclist only has to move one inch over the line and are struck down! OR even hit by mirrors wider than the Bus Lane! Othe comments here regarding the NEW crossings are also relevant - the COUNTDOWN to the next Green Signal would stop some impatient people jaywalking - BUT it must be on OPPOSITE side of road, high up and VISIBLE. ps hope the chap knocked down is not seriously hurt and makes a full recovery.