Priority bus seats can be dangerous

In May I was on a bus and discovered that some priority seats are very dangerous.

The bus stopped suddenly and because there was no barrier in front of me and nothing to hold on to I was thrown forward right to the front of the bus.

I collided with poles on the way and eventually fell backwards with my head on the bus platform.

I had nasty bumps on my forehead, and side and back of my head and very bad bruising and swelling on my face, neck, and other parts of my body.

I suffered concussion.

For weeks I had bad headaches and disorientation.

My speech, memory and eyesight were all affected.

It was a long time before I was able to drive again.

Four months later, I am still suffering from some of the symptoms.

No-one else on the bus was hurt at all because they all had something in front of them.

This was a priority seat.

Priority seats are intended to be used by the elderly and infirm, disabled people, pregnant women or a young parent with a toddler.

All people who need more protection, not less.

My accident actually happened in York but last week I went on a bus in Sheffield six times.

Five of the buses I travelled on had similar priority seats with nothing in front to hold on to or to stop a fall.

Bus companies need to urgently address this.

In the meantime, I would say if you usually use the priority seats, check to see if there is anything to stop you being thrown forward.

If there isn’t, please don’t sit there.

You could regret it for a very long time.