Bus driver admits "potentially dangerous" overtaking

Thursday 02 November 2023

A 58-year-old bus driver landed himself in court for some "potentially dangerous" overtaking while "under pressure" to get back to the station.

Noel Harrison, who admitted failing to comply with a traffic sign in the Magistrate's Court this week, pulled into the opposite lane of La Route du Fort in order to overtake a traffic jam while en route to St Helier town centre.

He told the Court that he had lost his job as a result of the offence.

The court saw CCTV footage of the manoeuvre, which took place at 08:40 on the morning of 12 July, just in front of police headquarters.

The bus pulled into the opposite lane, moved ahead of the queue of cars, and moved back into its own lane.

Pictured: Harrison, who no longer works as a bus driver, made the manoeuvre outside the States of Jersey Police headquarters.

Harrison said the bus had been full of passengers who were late for work as a result of the traffic jam and added: “I was under pressure to get back to the station for my next trip.

"If you’re late you’re brought before HR to explain why you’re late.”

The Assistant Magistrate said: “Driving on the opposite side of the road is always a potential danger, but my view is that this was a minor offence.”

Hearing that Harrison is now unemployed, he imposed a fine of £200 rather than £250.