A bus driver who crashed a coach carrying 29 children after entering a roundabout at 50mph has been banned from driving and handed a substantial fine. Brett Jarvis, 48, of Honey Hill in Lamburn, was heard 'screaming' as he lost control of the school bus, which was travelling at what authorities described as an 'inappropriate' speed for the conditions.
Court Appearance and Guilty Plea
Jarvis appeared at Aldershot Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of driving without due care and attention. The court heard how the incident occurred on September 25 on the A36 near Southampton, Hampshire, between the Ower roundabout and Junction 2 of the M27.
Dangerous Maneuver at High Speed
Police attended the scene at 7:59am and discovered the coach had been travelling down lane one of the A36 towards the interchange at 50 miles per hour. Witnesses reported that Jarvis failed to negotiate the shallow left-hand lane, instead entering the roundabout straight ahead. The vehicle collided with an offside ARMCO barrier before mounting the roundabout and eventually crashing into an embankment, where it came to rest at a 30-degree angle.
Kirsty Lavery, prosecuting, detailed the sequence of events: 'The defendant was driving southbound towards junction two. While approaching the roundabout, he failed to negotiate the shallow left-hand lane, entering it straight ahead and colliding with the offside ARMCO barrier before mounting the roundabout.'
Passenger Safety Concerns
At the time of the crash, there were 29 children and four adults on board the school coach. Miraculously, all the children escaped unharmed, though one adult suffered leg injuries in the incident. The presence of children on board was cited as a significant aggravating factor during sentencing.
Sentencing and Consequences
District Judge Stephen Apted found that Jarvis fell within the highest category for harm and medium culpability according to Sentencing Council guidelines for driving without due care and attention. Jarvis was handed a £564 fine and, as he already had six points on his licence, was disqualified from driving for six months.
Judge Apted stated: 'This was unsafe positioning and you were driving at a speed which was inappropriate for these conditions. There was injury to others, and there was damage caused to the vehicles or property. In addition to that, there were a number of other aggravating features. This was obviously a commercial vehicle, and in addition to that, there were passengers in the vehicle, including children.'
Financial Impact on Family
Jarvis, who represented himself in court, expressed concern about the financial burden the driving disqualification would place on his family. He explained: 'My wife will be unable to work as I drive her to and from work everyday. I am the sole driver in the family.' Despite these personal circumstances, the court maintained that the seriousness of the offense warranted the disqualification period.
The case highlights the serious consequences of inappropriate driving speeds, particularly when operating commercial vehicles carrying vulnerable passengers. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility borne by professional drivers and the potential dangers of failing to adjust speed appropriately for road conditions and traffic situations.
