Transport for London (TfL)
has today announced a new Bus Safety
Standard (BSS) with the aim of delivering the Mayor’s target of
no-one being killed on or by a London bus by 2030. It includes a
range of measures which all bus operators will have to adopt by
2024.
In response, MBE
AM, Chair of the London Assembly
Transport Committee said:
“We welcome TfL’s announcement of a new Bus Safety Standard
in a bid to make Londoners’ journeys on buses safer. However,
these measures simply do not go far enough.
“These proposals TfL have put forward are not only a year
late but they only apply to new buses.
“In July 2016, TfL promised that the BSS would be introduced
to bus contracts from December 2017. We are now at the end of
2018 and being told that only new buses will meet the BSS by some
time next year.
“This means the vast majority of London’s bus fleet will
still be on the road and will not be up to the Bus Safety
Standard.
“TfL’s own data shows there is a 13% increase in the number
of pedestrians being hit by a bus and an 11% increase on those
being injured while aboard a bus. All this is on the backdrop of
falling numbers of passengers using buses, so these statistics
are alarming. There is clearly a pressing need for action right
now beyond technological enhancement in the
future.
“TfL should set safety targets for bus operators. We suggest
the best way to do this is to integrate safety targets in the
contract performance target structure as soon as possible.
“We recognise how crucial technology is to improving bus
safety in the capital and that is why today the London Assembly
Transport Committee is renewing its call for TfL and the Mayor to
ensure there are no further delays to the introduction of this
technology but most of all to roll out the BSS to the whole bus
fleet in London.
“Nothing is more important than keeping Londoners safe in
this great city of ours especially when we are using public
transport. But TfL must prevent this from being a lottery. All
passengers at all times should be assured their bus is safe
enough to get on - not just the ones who are lucky enough to get
on a new one”.
