Reform assembly member blasts conditions for bus drivers

Keith Prince said improvements were necessary for drivers to have “basic human rights” reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

Bus driver conditions have failed to improve in London despite years of pressure on the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL), a senior Reform politician has said.

Veteran London Assembly member Keith Prince, who has been pushing authorities on the issue for years, said the capital’s drivers are still operating in “Victorian” conditions.

Last month his motion calling on Sir Sadiq Khan and TfL to implement minimum standards laid out in a a Bus Driver Bill of Rights was passed unanimously by the London Assembly.

Concerns over long hours, fatigue, workplace pressures, and access to adequate welfare facilities such as toilets have been raised by trade unions, campaigners and politicians for years.

However, Prince said the issue is a cross-party one that was a no-brainer to crusade on.

“Many people might ask why someone from Reform would be helping bus drivers,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

“It’s about basic human rights – some of these bus drivers in the last few weeks have been driving buses in 50 degree heat. Now, people die as a result of that.

“A lot of this is preventable – if we reduce driver fatigue, then fewer accidents happen.”

A survey from trade union Unite earlier this year found that 36 per cent of staff surveyed experienced sleepiness while driving two or three times a week, while 24 per cent had this happen once a week. Almost half – 48 per cent – had a ‘close call’ due to fatigue in the past 12 months.

“They’re doing these 12-hour shifts, they’re being forced to double roster – they might do 12 days on, just one day off and back on again,” he added.

“It’s almost Victorian – Dickens could have written a book about it.

“It’s just not acceptable. They have the right to be cool in the summer and warm in the winter because of course, the heaters don’t work in the winter. It’s about basic human rights, about people. I got involved in politics because I care about people.”

He said that it was “morally” correct to back the campaign for better conditions, despite any “financial risk” it may present. He compared it to his decision to welcome the installation of a rape crisis centre in Redbridge when he was leader of the council, despite the £100,000 annual cost.

“Now we have it because that’s the right thing to do for people,” he said.

Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses, has previously said that “tackling fatigue is essential to the safety and welfare of drivers and everyone using the capital’s bus network”.

“We rightly require operators to meet high welfare standards and we’re committed to ensuring that all staff have a fair work schedule, with safe vehicles and access to the rest facilities they need,” she added.

“We’re also committed to working with operators and Unite to trial new ways of tackling fatigue.

“The includes trials of cutting-edge technology on buses to provide alerts when fatigue is detected, alongside improved data gathering and analysis to understand more about fatigue, when it may happen and what evidence-based actions we can take to further support driver health and wellbeing.”

Backing the reporting of the LDRS, which has been conducting a joint investigation into bus driver conditions with MyLondon, Prince said: “Thank you for what you’re doing – it’s great that you’re joining the clan. You should be recognised and I do thank you for that on behalf of the bus drivers.”

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