The Health and Safety Executive have published details about a tragic case where a pensioner lost her life as a result of being hit by a crossing. The pedestrian, Mrs Grace Mecaley, who was 74 was using a designated pedestrian crossing at Walthamstow bus station, operated by Transport for London.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that Transport for London had failed to ensure the safety of pedestrians due to the poor design of the bus station. The pedestrian crossing was positioned on a “U-Turn” bend, where buses turned into the station. The positioning of the crossing, and the wide angle at which bus vehicles approached, meant that drivers could turn towards the crossing with some of its length being partially obscured from their view.
Mrs Mecaley was returning from a shopping trip on the 15th December 2023, and was two-thirds of the way across the crossing when she was hit by a double-decker bus. She tragically suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.
The Health and Safety Executive investigated Mrs Mecaley’s death and found that the crossing, which had been intended to give pedestrians priority, had actually increased the risk of a collision. A pedestrian had been struck on the same crossing in April 2022. The investigation also studied recent CCTV footage from before the accident, and 5 near misses between buses and pedestrians were counted in the two days before Mrs Mecaley was fatally struck.
Transport for London were criticised for failing to manage the risks at the crossing, despite being on notice of them, and for failing to adequately monitor the bus drivers operating from the station. The company were fined £2million plus costs, and they pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching Regulation 17(1) of the Workplace, Health, Safety and Regulations 1992.
This case highlights the danger facing pedestrians daily and the need to remain vigilant whenever crossing the road, or even walking alongside busy roads. The lady in question was using a designated crossing, but still tragically lost her life, due to a poorly designed transport hub and a failure on the part of the bus driver to pay due care and attention.
Our personal injury team have dedicated specialists who can provide advice and help if you or anyone you know has been involved in an accident as a result of being struck by a vehicle. Contact us today on 0161 696 6235 to speak with our expert solicitors.
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