Level crossing incident in Lincoln being investigated

[Emblematic]

It's a tough one; the bus was travelling at very slow speed and so it was a toss-up between stopping, safely well before the crossing but a couple of feet over the line, or rumbling onwards and being on the crossing when the reds flash; as indeed he did.

However, the law requires the driver to keep going if the vehicle is beyond the white line and the light is amber (even if still clear of the crossing.) So unless the driver was sure of being able to stop, he is required to proceed. The driver also has a duty of care to his passengers; if one were to be injured by his actions, he could be liable if his actions do not meet the judgement of 'reasonable.' It's doubtful that performing an emergency stop the instant a traffic light turns amber would be judged as reasonable.