I feel it necessary to write my anger at the suggestion that pedal cameras should be made mandatory.
Currently, I am a bus mechanic, but at one point, I was Systems Manager at Transport for Londonās (TfLās) East Thames Buses and London Dial-a-Ride from 2001-2009, where I was responsible for CCTV policies and procedures. CCTV has a role, but it is not to replace training.
As Geoff Cross from Centrad has stated, pedal confusion is rare, but it is not the only source for buses appearing to run away.
Pedals are often electronically controlled and although extremely rare, they can fail. What is less rare is a turbo passing oil, and when this happens, oil can pass into the combustion chambers, causing the bus to rev to an uncontrollable level. Successful applications of the brake will not necessarily bring the vehicle to a stop.
A high profile case in 2013 London saw TfL against the driver, and CCTV was shown of the latter in absolute panic. The ruling found the driver not guilty, as the judge could not be sure. The TfL Commissioner at the time was interviewed only to state that the ruling was incorrect.
Regardless of the reason, the accident still happened, and people still got hurt.Ā The incident would have still taken place even if the cameras were fitted. TfL’s answer to this was to obligate their operators to fit cameras, just to be able to disprove the next driver’s statement.
In my 29 years in the industry, not once have I heard any bus operator or authority give advice as to how to deal with a runaway engine (knock the bus out of gear, and slowly apply the handbrake).
Mr Cross states that the industry should follow TfLās Vision Zero campaign towards āimproving driver behaviour, with a view to reducing incidents and deaths in the long runā implying the threat of CCTV in order to fly right or be punished.
CCTV is a good retrospective tool, but it should not be used as a deterrent in such a situation in a case where no training has been given. Its only retrospective use in this situation is to prove or disprove liability after an event that could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds or more, or end up killing someone.
To suggest an industry-wide mandate without documenting all angles is irresponsible and no amount of threatening a driver under the guise of āVision Zeroā into checking his pedals is going to get through to a driver in a panic.
Brian Wharf
London
