London bus drivers have warned they are working in a “fatigue crisis” that is leaving some feeling like they are “driving on autopilot”, missing stops and making serious error
London bus driver fatigue is reportedly putting ‘drivers and the public’ at risk, according to a union. Unite the Union, the UK’s leading union, surveyed its bus drivers and found that over a third of them have experienced ‘sleepiness’ while driving at least twice a week.
The survey also found that almost half (48 per cent) have had a ‘close call’ due to fatigue in the past 12 months. Unite has said that it found London bus drivers were ‘regularly experiencing fatigue’ during their shifts. Their survey received over 2000 responses.
One driver said: “As a bus driver for four years, I have experienced heavy eyelids and loss of concentration which led to missing bus stops and taking a wrong turn or driving ahead through a red light. I have had body aches and felt everything moving in slow motion, had slow reactions.”
Another said: “There are times when I am working my fifth, sixth or seventh consecutive day, having already completed around 40 hours in the first four days. During these shifts, I sometimes feel like I am driving on ‘autopilot’, almost as if I am dreaming. I’m not fully alert and this is extremely dangerous. Fatigue like this can easily lead to serious or even fatal mistakes.”
Fatigue increases the risk of accidents, such as bus crashes. There have been several bus crashes in London over the last few months. Unite also found that several of their drivers were not telling their employers they were fatigued. 83 per cent reportedly feared negative impacts such as ‘discipline and loss of earnings’.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The results of Unite’s survey are damning – the time between rests, poor scheduling, not enough time between shifts and forced overtime is putting both bus drivers and the public in danger. This is a completely unacceptable situation.
“No worker should be overworked to the point where they are so fatigued they are falling asleep at the wheel and risking their lives while doing their job. It is clear that TfL and bus operators are not treating the fatigue crisis with the seriousness it deserves and Unite will fight tooth and nail to ensure this changes.”
It comes as more than 300 London bus drivers will go on strike later this week amid an ongoing dispute over fatigue and safety. Unite members will walk out of the Bow garage run by Stagecoach’s East London Bus & Coach Company on Friday, April 24. Unite said drivers did not have “adequate breaks”, had extra weekend working and had insufficient time between shifts to recuperate, with “near misses” reported.
Unite said “meal breaks are not being scheduled at the depot with many workers taking these on the side of the road” rather than at “an adequate rest area”. Meanwhile a Stagecoach spokesperson said “schedules, driver duties and rotas are compiled strictly within the law” with safety in mind and remained “comfortably within agreed” limits, despite recent changes to routes.
Unite regional officer Nadine Edwards said: “The impact of fatigue on London bus drivers is undeniable and needs to be urgently acted on. Previous action that has been taken by TfL and the bus companies has been pitiful, to the point where the situation has got worse.
“Actual change will only come about from listening to bus drivers who experience this day in day out. TfL and the bus companies must work with Unite to implement our demands, this situation will continue to put workers and the public at risk.”
A Stagecoach spokesperson previously told MyLondon that “schedules, driver duties and rotas are compiled strictly within the law” and are “comfortably within agreed” limits, despite recent route changes.
The company said it has held “detailed discussions” with Unite for “many months” and is open to continuing them to resolve concerns.’ They added: “There is no reason for any driver to work fatigued as they are encouraged to say if they are not safe to drive before and during all duties and are not financially penalised if they do so.”
Unite has launched its Fight Fatigue Now campaign, which is calling on TfL and employers to ‘introduce fatigue management into the TfL buses, establish consistency across scheduling and rosters, and ensure consistent start times to combat fatigue and improve rest, toilet and welfare facilities.’
7 bus routes affected
The upcoming strikes will see seven bus routes impacted:
The 25 and 425 are expected to run a near normal service for most of the day throughout the strikes. The other affected routes are likely to be severely delayed and subject to cancellations.
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