Bus Driver Fatigue

Transport for London has published this ‘world-first’ research into the issue of bus driver fatigue- which provides new information to help address the risk of collisions.The study highlights that drivers’ health and wellbeing is key and that adequate welfare facilities reduce stress, which in turn reduces the risk of fatigue.Conducted by Loughborough University and the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, the study is the first to assess participants while they are driving in-service buses and combine this data with detailed sleep diaries.It included a voluntary survey of drivers, which found that one in five reported having fatigue-related issues more than once a week while behind the wheel.

Although the report authors do not suggest a single solution, they did conclude that better partnership working between TfL, bus operators and bus drivers will deliver an even safer bus network.

As a result of the findings, TfL announced a number of key measures, including a £500,000 fund to help operators undertake further work to establish the most effective interventions to reduce fatigue.

From 2020, any company operating London buses will be required to introduce rigorous fatigue risk management systems as part of their contract.