An Uber driver whose passenger died after exiting a vehicle and being hit by a bus at a Sydney intersection has been found guilty of negligent driving occasioning death, local media reported.

Nazrul Islam, 32, had denied responsibility for the instant death of Englishman Samuel Thomas. The 30-year-old was killed after being caught off balance when Islam accelerated after dropping him off around dawn in June 2017.

During Monday's verdict, Downing Centre Local Court magistrate Mary Ryan said the driver ‘did not keep a proper lookout’ when the passenger opened the door, Australian Associated Press reported.

The ‘only explanation is that Mr Islam was much more fatigued than he admitted,’ Ryan said.

Islam had worked for 21 hours before the incident and despite indicating he had seven hours of sleep it was not continuous rest, she said, before finding the driver guilty.

The magistrate said while Islam was of good character with no criminal record, ‘people of good character also do commit offences for the first time.’  He will be sentenced at a later date.

Islam, who is from Bangladesh, had started working for Uber just three weeks prior to the death.

The incident forced the ride-sharing company to review its policy and last year implement an automated log-off period of six hours for drivers who have been on the road for 12 hours straight.