Bexley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – TfL pledges action to prevent future tragedies after a bus driver was sentenced for the Bexleyheath crash that killed 9-year-old Ada Bicacki.
Last August, Ada was killed in Bexleyheath when she was struck by a bus that was being driven by Martin Asolo-Agogua.
After a night of drinking, the 23-year-old bus driver fell asleep at the wheel and failed a drug test on the spot.
According to the Woolwich Crown Court, Asolo-Agogua obtained his driver’s license in January 2023 and started working as an Arriva bus driver a year later.
During his brief tenure as a bus driver, he received a lot of complaints regarding his driving, including times when he struck stationary cars or bus stops, damaging the bus.
After an incident in May where he stopped too suddenly and sent a minor passenger to the ground, he was temporarily suspended.
A spokesperson for TfL said:
“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Ada Bicakci who was killed in a bus collision in Bexley. This was a truly horrific incident that has devastated a family.
Martin Asolo-Agogua, through his dangerous and selfish behaviour, has caused unimaginable loss and suffering, and his actions were appalling.
We expect the highest standards from bus drivers and operators servicing London’s bus network and customers. Driving a bus is a significant responsibility and safety is paramount. We will ensure that everything that is learned from this incident is acted on to prevent this ever happening again.”
Gregory Fishwick, defending Asolo-Agogua, said:
“My client only hopes that if anything comes from this, it’s a stern warning that people should not drive if they are in any way fatigued.”
Ada’s parents, Nevgül and Bora Bicacki, were upset not just with Asolo-Agogua but also with the supervisors and the system that let him operate the bus that day.
Bora said:
“We seek not just justice for our daughter but a safer future for everyone.”
He claimed that the thought of future occurrences of the same kind hurts him just as much as losing his daughter.
“We hope road death becomes history,” he said.
What impact does this incident have on TfL’s safety policies?
In light of the deadly bus accident involving a drugged-out driver, Transport for London (TfL) has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering its safety protocols.
This incident emphasizes how crucial it is to keep constant attention and enforcement in order to avoid impaired driving and guarantee passenger safety, especially though TfL currently maintains strict safety standards and driver fitness inspections.
Building on its current strategy framework, which prioritizes multiple lines of defense, ongoing learning, and active assurance of safety across all services, TfL is expected to respond by reviewing and improving its safety risk management system.
In order to identify impairment early, drug and alcohol testing should be conducted more frequently and thoroughly.
Enhancing driver education programs regarding the risks and repercussions of drug use and exhaustion.
