London bus drivers are warning that fatigue is a 'ticking time bomb', with some forced to urinate in bottles due to a lack of toilet access during long shifts. Campaigners say it is 'only a matter of time' before a driver falls asleep at the wheel and causes a tragedy.
A petition called the Bus Drivers Bill of Rights, with 12 demands, has garnered over 23,000 signatures and was delivered to City Hall. Kevin Mustafa, a former driver and rep who compiled the petition, told Metro that fatigue issues are worsening, with drivers 'sacrificing their sleep and driving like a zombie', putting passengers at risk.
Drivers claim that stand times between journeys are being squeezed, and rotas often provide only 10 hours between shifts. Kevin said he once worked 13 consecutive days, totalling 130 hours before a day off. Research from Loughborough University in 2019 found that one in six drivers reported falling asleep at the wheel.
Lorraine Robertson, a former driver of 17 years, highlighted that 25% of bus routes lack a toilet at one end. She said facilities are often inaccessible, forcing drivers to rely on shops or tube stations. Transport for London (TfL) has defended its practices, noting that bus operators and the union have agreed one toilet is sufficient on routes with a round trip under 150 minutes.
TfL's Bus Safety Strategy outlines actions for a safe network, and the Mayor's Vision Zero aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on transport by 2041, with a target of no bus-related fatalities by 2030. Campaigners argue that more must be done to address driver welfare and safety.
