A faculty bus driver who overtook a horse and rider on a blind bend, then handed them at velocity whereas sounding his horn, is not in his job.
Felicity Armstrong reported each incidents, on two legs of the bus’s journey, on 20 January, to the British Horse Society, Northumberland County Council (NCC) and the police. Three days later, the council replied with the replace.
Felicity advised H&H she hopes the result will make folks realise reporting incidents is value it.
“I didn’t have digital camera footage, I couldn’t even inform them if it was a person or a girl driving,” she mentioned. “All I may inform them was the time, route, location and outline of the car. However that was sufficient data to determine the motive force.”
Felicity had taken her 12-year-old appaloosa mare Holly for an “out and again” trip on Friday afternoon, having been ready for the icy roads to grow to be secure.
“I had all my high-vis on and lights; I do the whole lot to make myself secure,” she mentioned. “As I got here to a bend on the street on the high of the hill, I waved on the bus driver to remain behind me; there was a bridleway I used to be going to get into to get out of his approach however he simply refused and overtook me on the bend, he couldn’t see spherical it. There may have been a bike owner or a horse coming – there’s a yard with a area close to there and so they stroll horses on the street – and if my horse wasn’t marvellous in visitors, it may have been a special story.”
Felicity and Holly have been then unfortunate sufficient to fulfill the identical driver once more, as each had turned spherical and have been heading again.
“I used to be on a straight street with a transparent view,” she mentioned. “This time, the problem wasn’t that he couldn’t see, it was his velocity. I didn’t realize it was him however may hear it was a big car so I put my arm out and requested him to decelerate. However he simply saved going, and tooted his horn. I believed ‘Sufficient. I’m performed, completely performed together with his behaviour. I may need let it go the primary time however the reality he handed once more, and tooted his horn, tipped me over the sting.”
It’s understood this isn’t the primary concern raised about this driver; Felicity mentioned she had been “almost been compelled off the street” by him whereas she was driving her automotive.
“It took him threatening my horse to take motion,” she mentioned. “Different liveries at my yard have additionally mentioned they’ve had related, and he’s driving a bus full of youngsters, for heaven’s sake. If my kids had been travelling on that bus, I’d be livid.”
Felicity posted in regards to the incident on the Cross Broad and Gradual Fb group to unfold the phrase, as she is filled with reward for the protection marketing campaign, and in addition praised the British Horse Society for its street security work, together with with NCC.
“On the identical trip, I met a gritter driver from the identical council,” she mentioned. “He noticed me and stopped, waited and watched. I gave him an enormous thumbs up and mentioned thanks and he did the identical again and mentioned no downside. I additionally emailed the council about him to say thanks a lot as he was pretty.”
Felicity has additionally reported incidents to Northumbria Police, which she mentioned has additionally responded in a really constructive method.
“This simply goes to indicate, it’s value reporting issues,” she mentioned. “I’ve been blown away by this response; I didn’t count on him to get sacked however possibly it’s a end result of issues.”
An NCC spokesman advised H&H: “The protection of all street customers is of paramount significance, and our enormous community of rural roads means there are extra horses, cyclists, walkers and farm automobiles on them than in additional city areas.
“Whereas faculty bus drivers usually are not employed instantly by the county council they’re nonetheless topic to a strict code of conduct and the place their behaviour falls under acceptable requirements we won’t hesitate in taking applicable motion to deal with.
“All county council drivers are educated to recognise dangers and respect different street customers and we’re happy to listen to this constructive suggestions.”
You may additionally be keen on:
Credit score: BHS
Credit score: Future
Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is full of all the most recent information and studies, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and studies in addition to different advantages.