Seminar
Day 1 (17 Sep 2025), Session 3, Improvements to buses, 16:00 - 18:00
Status
Accepted, awaiting documents
Submitted by / Abstract owner
Rachel Birrell
Authors
Rachel Birrell, Transport for London (presenter)
Short abstract
The Bus Safety Standard requires the use of safer vehicles by specifying safety requirements that new buses entering service in London must meet, both ahead of and in addition to regulation.
Abstract
Transport for London’s (TfL) target, set out in our Vision Zero action plan, is for a safe bus network in London with no one killed on or by a bus by 2030, and no one killed or seriously injured on or by a bus by 2041. A key part of achieving this is through our Bus Safety Standard (BSS), which contractually requires the use of safer vehicles by specifying safety requirements that new buses entering service in London must meet, both ahead of and in addition to regulation. The BSS measures are also increasingly being adopted by other local authorities in the UK and around the world, and it is leading the way across the bus industry to encourage safer vehicles.
The first suite of safety requirements for new buses was introduced in 2019, with subsequent requirements in 2021 and 2024. This includes measures such as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) that limits bus speeds to the posted speed limit, Cameras Monitoring Systems which significantly reduced blind spots, Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System for quiet running buses, and more recent requirements introduced in 2024 include Advanced Emergency Braking and enhanced front end geometry to reduce the impact of a collision. We are now developing phase 2 of the Bus Safety Standard to ensure we continue to innovate while delivering the safest buses to support our Vision Zero goals. The Bus Safety Standard phase 2 will cover new safety requirements for 2027, 2030 and 2033.
Phase 2 of the BSS is looking at new measures to reduce and mitigate bus customer injuries, the potential of new enhanced driver assist technology to help a driver to avoid a collision, and a new inclusive and ergonomic cab design. The bus driver cab redesign a key part of the BSS phase 2 and aims to reimagine the driver’s cab to ensure it is designed holistically as a workplace that is safe, comfortable, and secure for all bus drivers. It has seven key aims:
1. Provide a comfortable, user-friendly and adjustable driver’s cab that is designed for different body types to support a more inclusive workforce.
2. Improve the safety of bus drivers by ensuring they are better protected in a collision.
3. Improve bus driver health and wellbeing through reducing health issues related to poor ergonomics and improve drivers’ perception of the cab as a comfortable and inviting workspace. We want to elevate the driver’s status and make drivers feel valued.
4. Reduce driver impairment, including fatigue from physical manoeuvring, and mental and cognitive overload from risks including illegal substances and distractions due to sounds and alerts in the cab.
5. Improve the safety of bus passengers and road users outside the bus through new technology and measures implemented through the Bus Safety Standard, including enhanced driver assist systems and better integration of systems to mitigate safety risks by warning the driver or intervening on their behalf in emergency situations.
6. Support an improved bus customer experience, as well as customer safety, through better communication between the driver and customers, including wheelchair users.
7. Support improved bus driver security to ensure drivers feel secure and protected.
We are working with the bus industry, including bus operators, bus manufacturers and their tier one suppliers to research, trial and develop new innovative improvements. This will inform the publication of a new roadmap in early 2026 which will set out the requirements for new buses entering service in 2027, 2030 and 2033 in London.
Programme committee
System Thinking
Topic
Utilising technology, Artificial Intelligence and digital twins to improve transport systems and transport research
Documents:
No documents yet.
