Anger as taxi driver gets £200 fine after death of tot (From Worcester News)

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Anger as taxi driver gets £200 fine after death of tot

7:10am Saturday 12th July 2008

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By Lucy Tatchell »

A TAXI driver who knocked down a toddler who later died has walked away from court with six penalty points on his licence and a £200 fine.

The family of Cameron Simpson responded with fury following the sentencing of Stewart McKay at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Magistrates could have disqualified him from driving and fined him up to £5,000.

Three-year-old Cameron was killed a week before Christmas after getting out of a taxi just metres from his Droitwich home. Yesterday McKay admitted driving without due care and attention.

Magistrates were told the accident happened on Tuesday, December 18, in Meadow Road, Droitwich, as Cameron returned from a trip to Worcester with his mum Kerry, 18-month-old sister Cassidy and some friends. The group had got into McKay’s Blue Door minibus taxi at Droitwich train station to go home to Meadow Walk.

After getting out of the taxi, Cameron and his mother walked in front of it. Just before he reached the pavement McKay pulled away, knocking him to the ground. Cameron died later at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Mark Soper, prosecuting, said before pulling away McKay pushed a button on a dashboard messaging system to say he was clear of the job, looked in his mirrors and drove off “Unfortunately, Cameron was right in front of the car and he was killed,” said Mr Soper. “Miss Simpson walked in front because she wanted to be sure she could be seen. He (McKay) was looking the wrong way. He should have been looking forward.”

Julian Harris, defending, disputed this claim and said McKay was looking forward when he pulled away. He added: “Stewart McKay and his family have been through absolute hell since this accident. It does not compare to the suffering of the family of the victim. It is simply a catastrophic and horrendous lapse of concentration which has had dire consequences. Everybody has lost as a result of what happened that evening.”

Mr Harris said McKay, aged 21, of Archers Close, Droitwich, was a hard worker who if disqualified from driving would lose his job, to which he had returned two months after the accident.

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Simpson, said: “It is disgusting, there is no justice. I think disqualification is the least they could have done. If I steal something from Boots they will put me in prison. I will never forgive him.”

Blue Door taxis declined to comment. McKay was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

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Your Say Your Worcester

Logik, Worcester says...
3:12pm Sat 12 Jul 08

As with everyone else no doubt, it is difficult to know just what to say.

Firstly, the overall standard of taxi driving these days does seem quite appalling. I have often witnessed taxi drivers pulling away driving forwards whilst looking backwards. This is just the start of it, I don't know about Droitwich but here in Worcester, they charge round like a bat out of hell.

I am surprised to learn however that the taxi driver is still only 21 years old. As we all know, statistically drivers under the age of 25 are those most likely to be involved in accidents. Surely therefore there is a case to argue that drivers who are involved in transportation of the public, should have both a minimum age and experience requirement before being allowed to do so.

I would also suggest that there is a case to argue of whether someone who has now been convicted of driving without due care and attention, with such tragic consequences, still be allowed to continue in he same line of work.

Now this bit is difficult but I feel it needs to be said. I have to question the wisdom of anyone who would choose to cross the road in directly in front of a vehicle to which you have just alighted which is going to be moving off. I have seen this so many times with people of all ages and indeed only the other day I was passing a bus only to find an old dear trying to cross the road directly in front of it.

Unfortunately, road safety information on TV has disappeared these days. You would think that individuals common sense would be paramount given that are roads are much much busier than they used to be but that appears not to be the case.

In my reasonably quiet street I have often witnessed a neighbours child toddle of down the street in advance of his mother and immediately your heart jumps into your mouth. On looking closer however, he waits down the road, firmly back from the edge of the pavement, waits for his mother to arrive and then waits to be told to cross. I believe this shows that children can and should be educated about road safety as early as possible.

In all it is a tragic accident and surely a lot of people can learn from and in doing so, prevent such tragedies happening again.

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