End bus driver fatigue and stress, says unite

Hundreds of bus drivers and their supporters last month marched through central London to protest against driver fatigue and unsafe working conditions.

This was the latest of several demonstrations that have had the support of the drivers’ Unite union.

The drivers were calling for urgent action from the government and Transport for London (TfL) and delivered a petition to Parliament calling for a bus driver Bill of Rights to be incorporated into bus contracts.

More than 26,000 people have signed the petition which says that an average of three people a day are hospitalised from a preventable bus safety incident, at least one of which is a collision. These incidents result in a death every 5-6 weeks.

The Bill of Rights includes the right to a safe work schedule without any forced overtime or loss of pay; a decent and proper rest break in the working day; safe and well-maintained vehicles; and clean, serviced toilet and rest facilities on all bus routes.

It also sets out the right to report safety concerns without fear of retribution from TfL or employers, and the right not to work when seriously ill, without harassment.

And it calls for relevant and timely safety training as well as working air cooling in cabs in the summer and heating in the winter.

Unite wants TfL and the bus operators to act now to reduce the pressures drivers face and end driver fatigue and stress.