12-03-2025
Southend Send school bus driver suspended over shouting video
A minibus driver has been suspended from work after footage appeared to show them in a roadside spat while taking children with additional needs to motorist, who worked for transport provider Vecteo, was captured shouting at the drivers of two cars in Colemans Avenue, followed one of the cars being involved in a minor collision with another vehicle after failing to give way, the Local Democracy Reporting Service manager Glen Shuttlewood said: "This is not the way we expect our drivers to behave on the road. Our driver has been removed from driving whilst we investigate and follow our internal procedures"
'Troubling'
Vecteo, which is owned by Southend-on-Sea City Council, provides a school transport service for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).Colin Nickless, who lives in the seaside city and is a father of Send children, said it was "troubling" to see footage of the incident."Providing this service should always be conducted in a safe and professional manner, so it is sad to see this fall short," he said."The council has invested a huge amount of taxpayers' money into this service, so I hope senior management at Southend Council insist on improved training and monitoring of drivers."Vecteo was initially formed as a joint venture between London Hire Community Services and the council in has struggled with staff numbers in recent months.A council spokesperson said: "Vecteo have confirmed with us they are aware of the incident and are investigating the matter."
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