London Assembly Passes Motion for Bus Driver Rights

The London Assembly has unanimously passed a motion demanding improved standards for bus drivers across the capital, with Reform Assembly Member Keith Prince highlighting what he termed "Victorian" working conditions. The motion calls for the implementation of a Bus Driver Bill of Rights, addressing concerns over long hours, driver fatigue, and access to adequate welfare facilities.

Concerns Over Driver Welfare

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Prince, a veteran campaigner on the issue, stated that improvements are necessary to ensure drivers have "basic human rights." He cited instances of drivers operating in extreme heat and long shifts, including 12-hour days and minimal rest days, as unacceptable. "It’s about basic human rights, some of these bus drivers in the last few weeks have been driving buses in 50 degree heat," Prince told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "Now, people die as a result of that. A lot of this is preventable, if we reduce driver fatigue, then fewer accidents happen."

Supporting these claims, a survey conducted by the Unite trade union earlier this year revealed that 36% of surveyed staff experienced sleepiness while driving two to three times per week. Furthermore, 24% reported this issue once a week, and nearly half, 48%, had a "close call" due to fatigue in the past 12 months. Prince described the situation as akin to a Dickensian novel, stating, "It’s almost Victorian, Dickens could have written a book about it."

TfL's Commitment to Tackling Fatigue

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Lorna Murphy, TfL's Director of Buses, acknowledged the importance of addressing driver fatigue. "Tackling fatigue is essential to the safety and welfare of drivers and everyone using the capital’s bus network," Murphy stated. TfL has committed to ensuring operators meet high welfare standards and that staff have fair work schedules and necessary rest facilities.

The transport authority is also planning to trial new methods for combating fatigue. This includes testing advanced technology on buses that can provide alerts when fatigue is detected. TfL will also enhance data collection and analysis to better understand fatigue patterns and implement evidence-based support for driver health and wellbeing. TfL stated its commitment to working collaboratively with operators and Unite on these initiatives.