TfL fined £2m after pedestrian death at Walthamstow bus station
Transport for London admitted breaching health and safety regulations following a fatal incident in December 2023.
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Transport for London (TfL) has been ordered to pay £2 million in fines following the death of a 74-year-old woman. Grace Mecaley was struck by a double-decker bus on Walthamstow High Street on December 15, 2023, as she walked home from shopping. The collision occurred near the bus station at approximately 5pm.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded that TfL failed to guarantee safe circulation for pedestrians and vehicles within the bus station. Inspectors noted the pedestrian crossing was situated at the apex of a bend where buses entered the station. This placement restricted drivers' visibility of the full crossing before turning.
TfL Investigates Man Hit By Bus At Walthamstow Station
The incident on September 22 follows a fatal collision at the same location in December 2023.
Previous Incidents and Near Misses
The HSE found that TfL's inadequate risk management had persisted over several years. Records indicated a prior collision involving a pedestrian at the same crossing in April 2022. Despite this, TfL had not conducted a risk assessment for the area. CCTV footage also captured five instances where pedestrians narrowly avoided being hit by buses in the two days preceding Mrs Mecaley's death. The HSE also stated TfL did not adequately monitor bus drivers operating at the station.
TfL entered a guilty plea to breaching Regulation 17(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The organisation was fined £2 million and ordered to pay £5,081 in costs at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 25. Laurence Goodacre, HSE inspector, stated that TfL's failings meant Mrs Mecaley never returned home.
A13 Lodge Avenue flyover replacement to bring safety upgrades
Transport for London project in Dagenham will replace aged structure with a design for greater longevity and improved traffic separation.
Every death on the transport network is devastating, and we're determined to end the trauma caused by loss of life and injury.
Lorna Murphy, TfL director of buses
Lorna Murphy, TfL's director of buses, expressed that her thoughts were with Mrs Mecaley's family and friends. She acknowledged TfL's responsibility for the charges brought by the HSE and stated the organisation would review the court's fine. Ms Murphy also confirmed that works to permanently improve pedestrian safety at the bus station were finished in December 2024.
Questions this report answers
+Why was Transport for London fined?
Transport for London was fined £2 million after a 74-year-old woman, Grace Mecaley, died in a collision with a bus. The Health and Safety Executive found TfL failed to ensure safe circulation for pedestrians and vehicles at the Walthamstow bus station, breaching workplace health and safety regulations.
+When and where did the incident occur?
The fatal incident took place on December 15, 2023, at approximately 5pm on Walthamstow High Street, near the bus station. Grace Mecaley was using a pedestrian crossing when she was struck by a bus.
+What improvements have been made to pedestrian safety?
Works to permanently enhance pedestrian safety at the Walthamstow bus station were completed in December 2024. These improvements were implemented following the HSE investigation into the incident and previous safety concerns at the crossing.
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