Girl, 15, injured by refuse truck reversing in Plymouth city centre
TRAFFIC rules in Plymouth city centre are being re-assessed after a teenage girl's scrape with a reversing truck.
Plymouth City Council has launched an investigation after 15-year-old Holly Thorne was in collision with a council refuse van in a pedestrianised area.
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Police have emphasised the driver will not face any charges — but the teenager's mum Penny is calling for all vehicles to be banned from the city centre.
The 44-year-old said: "Something has to be done. I could be here crying because my daughter had died.
"A woman died in 2008 — what will it take before they realise something has to change?"
Mother-of-five Margaret Anne Given, from Stonehouse, died after being trapped under the wheels of a reversing van in New George Street in November 2008.
Holly's accident, near Armada Way's Big Screen on Saturday, saw her knocked to the floor as she tried to push friends away from the oncoming vehicle.
She tried to stand up but collapsed, and worried shoppers dialled 999.
Holly, who was due back at Liskeard School on Monday, is now recovering at home suffering from bad bruising and a sprained wrist.
"She's really shaken up by it," said mum-of-two Penny, a waitress in the South East Cornwall town.
"I just think it's wrong that they drive in there and collect rubbish at 1.30pm on a Saturday; why can't they do it after 6pm?"
The city council told The Herald it was aware of the accident.
A spokesman said: "Any incidents involving claims of injury to members of the public are subject to full investigation.
"This would include reconsidering of risk assessments and interviews with members of staff and witnesses.
"Plymouth City Centre is exceptionally busy over the weekends and as such there is a need to maintain our operational standards, such as emptying bins.
"However, safety is our overriding concern and with this in mind the City Centre Company is working in conjunction with the council to review the vehicle movement procedures within the city centre."
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by babs, st judes
Friday, September 10 2010, 9:07AM
“well all i can say is if the girl was pushing her friends away y the hell didnt she move herself was this a set up against pcc? all youngsters goes around with the headfones in there ears with wot they call music blasting away and cant hear a thing i was int he town one day and a group of youngsters was swearing and screaming at each other like they do and wasnt paying attention to ppl or vechiles around them im glad the driver isnt being charged come on kids wake up wen ya in the town for gods sake”
by willywills, norfolk
Thursday, September 09 2010, 6:15AM
“Ok, so the girl was injured pushing her friends out of the way, surely they must have seen or heard the lorry!! As with all youngsters these days, were pobably on the mobiles or had their i-pods blasting their eardrums and were, as usual, oblivious to what was going on around them - you see it all the time.
I was brought up to watch and listen for traffic, now its the other way around, the poor motorist has enough to contend with just driving without having to look for brainless people who can't take care of themselves”
by willywills, Norfolk
Thursday, September 09 2010, 6:11AM
“Ok, so the girl was pushing her friedns out of the way, but surely they have eyes and ears too! There was a time when we were taught to watch out for traffic, now the poor driver has to look for dim-witted pedestrians as well as all other other hazards associated with driving, its's about time that people started using their brains again and looking around them instead of constantly on their mobiles or have ear-plugs in, listening to music!!”
by Tess, Plymouth
Thursday, September 09 2010, 1:34AM
“All of these vans are fitted with a reversing alarm, don't tell me nobody heard it. I have been to the city to shop and all around Plymouth people walk behind reversing vehicles. Are pedestrians just stupid? If you hear a beeping sound the van is reversing and if you look a car has a white light to let you know they are backing up. Don't blame the drivers, they do try to avoid the people, i.e granny, grandpa, little ones or those with plugs in their ears listening to the latest noise.”
by Steve, Millbay
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 8:09PM
“You should walk through New George Street and Cornwall Street at 7.30 every morning with the window cleaning vehicles speeding left right and centre around the pedestrianised areas.
I had an S Dingle Van clip my shopping bag he came that close!”