Birmingham driver sacked after reading at wheel of double decker

Apr 28 2010 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail

A BUS driver caught on camera reading a book at the wheel of a double decker has been fired, his bosses confirmed today.

The man was recorded by a stunned passenger using his elbows to steer the number 61 along one of Birmingham’s busiest roads – so he could keep his hands free to turn the pages.

He was so engrossed that he failed to indicate as he pulled in to stops and only took his eyes off the book briefly to deal with fares as he drove out of the city through Selly Oak.

But one commuter on board was so concerned that he filmed a minute long clip of the driver flicking through pages and clearly failing to concentrate on the road ahead.

It has now had more than 104,000 views on video sharing website YouTube and his bosses at National Express West Midlands said today that they had sacked him.

The employee was immediately suspended when the film came to light and hauled before a disciplinary panel.

Police have said they will also look at evidence and consider whether the driver ought to face charges of dangerous driving, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 12 months and a three-year ban from the roads.

The disturbing footage was captured on Monday, April 19 as the Rubery-bound vehicle made its way along the A38 Bristol Road.

“The guy was in a world of his own, totally absorbed in his book,” said the passenger who filmed the clip.

“He was literally steering with his elbows and glancing between the book and the road ahead.”

A spokesman for National Express West Midlands said: “Following disciplinary procedures the driver no longer works for us. It is completely unacceptable.”