Bus drivers face 'Victorian' conditions, says London Assembly Member
Keith Prince backs campaign for a Bus Driver Bill of Rights amid concerns over fatigue and welfare.
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Trust 68: named officials quoted and Unite survey cited, but only one outlet and no specific dates.
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Critic 72: clear quotes and figures, yet article feels like a press release with limited next‑step detail.
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London bus drivers continue to operate in "Victorian" conditions, veteran London Assembly Member Keith Prince has said. He has lent his support to MyLondon's Back Our Bus Drivers campaign, highlighting concerns over long hours, driver fatigue, workplace pressures, and access to welfare facilities.
Call for Minimum Standards
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Last month, Mr Prince's motion urging Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) to implement minimum standards through a Bus Driver Bill of Rights was passed unanimously by the London Assembly. Trade unions, campaigners, and politicians have raised these issues for years, but Mr Prince described the situation as a "no-brainer" for cross-party support.
Speaking to MyLondon's The London Brief podcast, Mr Prince stated that "basic human rights" are at stake, citing instances of drivers working in extreme heat and the preventable nature of accidents caused by driver fatigue. He noted that drivers are often working 12-hour shifts, sometimes with only one day off after 12 consecutive working days.
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The Unite survey indicated that 36% of drivers experienced sleepiness while driving two to three times a week, with 24% reporting this once a week. Almost half of those surveyed, 48%, had a "close call" due to fatigue in the past 12 months. Mr Prince described the working conditions as "almost Victorian" and "not acceptable."
TfL's Commitment to Safety
Lorna Murphy, TfL's Director of Buses, acknowledged the importance of addressing fatigue. "Tackling fatigue is essential to the safety and welfare of drivers and everyone using the capital’s bus network," she said. TfL stated its commitment to ensuring operators meet high welfare standards, fair work schedules, safe vehicles, and necessary rest facilities.
Ms Murphy added that TfL is working with operators and Unite to trial new methods for combating fatigue. These include using technology to alert drivers when fatigue is detected and improving data analysis to better understand fatigue patterns and implement evidence-based support for driver health and wellbeing.
Mr Prince thanked MyLondon for its campaign, stating it was "great that you're joining the clan" in advocating for basic rights to be written into TfL's contracts with bus operators.
Questions this report answers
+What are the main concerns raised about bus driver conditions?
Concerns include long hours, driver fatigue, workplace pressures, and inadequate access to welfare facilities like toilets. London Assembly Member Keith Prince described the conditions as "Victorian" and likened them to a "Dickens novel."
+What action has been taken by the London Assembly?
Last month, the London Assembly unanimously passed a motion calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL to implement a Bus Driver Bill of Rights. This aims to establish minimum standards for bus drivers' working conditions.
+What does TfL say about driver fatigue?
TfL's Director of Buses, Lorna Murphy, stated that tackling fatigue is essential for the safety and welfare of drivers and passengers. TfL is committed to high welfare standards and is trialling new technologies to detect and address driver fatigue.
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