Organisations: Transport for London (TfL) and TRL
Date of Publication: August 2023
Uploaded to Knowledge Centre: 27 February 2024
In February 2016, TfL launched a bus safety programme, including a commitment to develop a ‘Bus Safety Standard’, to ensure that the safest buses are driven on London’s roads.
TRL was commissioned to research and develop that standard. This has been an evidence-based and collaborative project, consulting with the bus manufacturers and operators on technical feasibility, timelines and implementation so that everyone has the confidence that the safety measures will make a real contribution to Vision Zero.
The Bus Safety Standard will provide a substantial proportion of the casualty savings required to meet the targets, and this document summarises the safety measures featured. Not all the technologies are available immediately and some will require development time, so TfL’s bus safety roadmap sets out future plans for the buses, to give the manufacturers time to invest in these new safety features. The standard will continue to evolve to take account of technology innovations in the future.
The Bus Safety Standard has been developed by TfL, for London, but the benefits are potentially global.
The Bus Safety Standard now comprises a suite of 14 documents listed on the link below: the Executive Summary, a Roadmap, and then 12 reports evaluating different safety measures.
Access the Bus Safety Standard via the TRL website:
https://trl.co.uk/projects/the-transport-for-london-bus-safety-standards