Too many on Mersey Buses
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• Fines and costs totalling 2595.80 were imposed on Mersey Bus after Liverpool City Magistrates convicted it of permitting buses to carry too many standing passengers.
Merseyside Transport, trading as Mersey Bus, denied three charges of permitting buses to be overloaded.
The court was told that following complaints observations were kept on the company's route 79 during March. Buses were seen to be carrying between 20 and 25 standing passengers instead of the permitted 16. During the week observations were taken, only three inspectors were seen and none at all at peak hours in the city centre.
A one-man-operated driver was in a very difficult position to assess the number of passengers boarding a bus and required assistance, but the company did not provide sufficient inspectors.
Evidence was given by Mersey Bus of staff notices issued and instructions Oven to inspectors to monitor services.
Arguing that the company had exercised due diligence David Hodge, defending, said it was not disputing that overloading occurred — but the company had taken adequate steps to prevent it.
Unfortunately two things happened: a major competitor came off the route concerned, and there was a strike among the company's engineering staff. That created an impossible situation.
Additional inspectors could not be quickly obtained and the company had taken what steps it could.
The magistrates fined the company 2100 per offence.