London bus driver fatigue putting passengers at risk

A survey by the union found that over a third (36 per cent) of London bus drivers felt sleepy behind the wheel two to three times a week.

Nearly half of the over 2,000 drivers surveyed said fatigue had nearly led to an accident in the past 12 months.

Unite has highlighted long shifts, limited rest, poor scheduling and forced overtime as factors for for the widespread exhaustion.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, 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."

Unite said many drivers work 12-hour shifts and described patterns such as working 13 days in a row with just one day off as "common practice."

Fatigue, the union said, goes beyond everyday tiredness and cannot simply be cured by a short rest.

Drivers reported concentration problems, "microsleeps" — brief, involuntary lapses into unconsciousness — and health issues such as chronic pain, cardiovascular problems and anxiety.

Ms Graham said: "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."

According to the survey, 83 per cent of drivers said they do not report fatigue to their employer for fear of discipline, loss of earnings, or loss of rest day working.

Unite also highlighted scheduling pressures that force drivers to continue working while exhausted.

Since 20mph speed limits were introduced in London in March 2020, the majority of drivers — 66 per cent — said they frequently lack the scheduled time needed to complete their journeys on time.

More than half (53 per cent) said they are forced to work overtime or finish late several times a week because of tight schedules.

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A previous study on London bus driver fatigue was conducted by Loughborough University in 2019 and included around 1,350 respondents.

Unite’s latest survey suggests the problem has worsened since then, with a third of drivers calling the situation "much worse."

The union has launched a Fight Fatigue Now campaign, calling on Transport for London (TfL) and bus companies to:

• Stop disciplining drivers for reporting fatigue.
• Guarantee a minimum of 12 hours between shifts and more consistent start times.
• Improve rest, toilet and welfare facilities.

Nadine Edwards, regional officer at Unite, 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."

Ms Edwards argued that lasting solutions would only come from listening to drivers on the frontline.

She said: "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, otherwise this situation will continue to put workers and the public at risk."

Drivers who took part in the survey said fatigue was affecting their safety and performance on the road.

One 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 described feeling dangerously disconnected while driving after long stints on duty.

They 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."

Lorna Murphy, TfL's Director of Buses, said: “Bus drivers play a vital role in keeping London moving, and the welfare of both our drivers and customers is paramount.

"Working closely with Unite, bus operators and drivers, we set and enforce high standards so that drivers are supported by safe vehicles, fair work schedules and the facilities they need to do their jobs effectively.

“We have long‑standing programmes in place covering education, health and wellbeing, rest facilities, workplace culture and clear welfare policies, with a strong focus on understanding and tackling fatigue.

"This includes improving how we gather and analyse data on when fatigue occurs, alongside the recent introduction of fatigue‑detection technology, so the right, evidence‑based interventions can be put in place.

“We have not seen Unite’s survey, but we welcome all input on fatigue and will continue working with Unite to address it.

"Any concerns raised by drivers are always taken seriously and fully investigated, and operators should never take action against anyone raising welfare or safety issues.”

We have contacted the Mayor's office for comment.