Tram driver suspended over footage of him ‘sleeping’ at controls in London - DIBC News

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A tram driver has been suspended after footage released by The Sun appeared to show him struggling to stay awake whilst operating a vehicle.

FirstGroup has announced that their driver was removed from duty pending an investigation into the incident.

Video emerged of the driver at the controls of a tram on the same line in which a crash killed seven people in Croydon on 9th November.

The Sun has said that the video was recorded in April, about three miles from the south London derailment.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was “extremely concerned” by the footage.

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[xenbo]

I am the driver of that Tram and i think it's time i stepped forward and say something. This footage was filmed on the 21st April 2016, almost 7 months before the fatal crash on the 9th November 2016. Back in the February 0f 2016 I had broken my arm and I had had 2 months off work which was not long enough. Even though i was in constant contact with the allocation department I was being hounded by the Manager about 7 weeks into my recuperation to find out when I was coming back to work. I should have taken another month off but I didn't due to feeling pressured, but i did not admit to this. In the transport industry you learn to watch you back and i realised this too late. Due to the pain in my right arm i was feeling worn out and tired and I should not have been back at work at the time I was filmed. My return to work it was not suggested that I be offered a phased return to work, i was just placed back into full time work including 7 days working before having a day off. On the day I was filmed I had worked 7 days. I do not remember this incident but obviously it happened and I am not denying it. I should have dug my heels in and took 3 months and stood up to the Operations Manager. I lost my job and me, my wife and my children are still experiencing financial difficulties. Mayor Sadiq Khan ordered me dismissed before I even had a hearing and not being in a trade union i never had a chance. It is my wish to be called into the Inquest and give evidence about this incident and its relation to driver fatigue. I would also like to apologise to the public of Croydon for this incident and my lack of strength to have had more time off. Thr person that filmed me should have taken the footage to TFL the very next day instead of holding on to the it for 7 months and selling it to the Sun for £10k or more. You could have saved lives had you acted alot sooner instead of your own personal gain.

[jacksainthill]

Let's film the driver instead of asking him if he feels OK.

[bobbymoon]

The driver had an undiagnosed medical condition. He was becoming diabetic and didn't know. He got sacked because Sadiq Khan ordered it. Him and his family are now suffering financial hardship. He had worked for the tram company for a very long time. He never even got a medical when he was under investigation.

[farmertrg]

If this was a crash/the crash?.... I would hold the persons who is filming this accountable as they did nothing to stop an incident. Yes the driver is in the wrong but wouldn't you do something to wake him as he does have control of the train your riding on??? .

[StanWeiner]

They quick to show this guy but not the actual guy who caused the crash killing 7. There's not even a picture of him, I wonder why.

[farmertrg]

Why not help and wake him up as its your lives in the line?

[hanesBoard]

Did they ever catch this voyeur who films sleeping men then uploads the content to YouTube?

[Kevin-gbwr]

The driver is in a separate compartment from the passengers in these Croydon trams - it would have been hard for passengers to have woken him up. Stop blaming the cameraman!