A bus driver has been sacked after he was seen apparently driving through a red traffic light and causing a near-miss at one of Derby’s busiest junctions.
Video footage was released which appeared to show a YourBus driver pulling out in front of an oncoming vehicle at the exit junction of Derby Bus Station at the Cockpit Island junction.
The incident happened at around 9am on Wednesday, January 31.
This is the moment a bus passed through a red light forcing a car to brake heavily during an incident which was captured on dash cam
YourBus confirmed they have sacked the driver involved as he was unable to provide any justification for going through a red light and endangering other road users
The dash-cam footage was filmed by Michael Toryusen from Pear Tree and shows the driver of a car braking hard to avoid a collision.
It is not clear whether there were any passengers on the bus at the time.
After reviewing CCTV footage at the time of the incident, YourBus said the driver – who has not been named – had passed a red traffic light which was in good working order.
YourBus operations director Paul Major said the firm had no other option but to terminate the driver’s employment after he gave no reason for his dangerous actions.
Mr Major said: ‘The CCTV was viewed this morning, which confirmed that the driver in question passed a road traffic signal that was displaying a red aspect, and that the traffic signals in question appeared to be in good working order.
‘The driver had already been removed from all driving duties pending the conclusion of this investigation. He was duly interviewed this afternoon and could give no reason for failing to stop at the red traffic light.
‘Obviously, this is a major safety concern and, as I have previously stated, here at YourBus, the safety of our customers, staff and other road users is of paramount importance.
‘The only choice available to us, there being no reason for this incident given, was to terminate the employment of the driver with immediate effect.
‘This driver is therefore no longer employed by YourBus.
‘Had we been made aware of this incident earlier, as it took place on January 31, 2018, it would have been dealt with immediately.
‘I would like to reiterate our focus on the safety of our customers, staff and other road users.’
Software engineer Mr Toryusen, 24, said he was surprised the bus driver had been sacked.
He said: ‘I’m surprised that YourBus have gone that far.
‘I posted the video because I wanted to raise awareness of it but I thought the driver would have gone a retraining programme of some kind.’