London bus drivers have raised concerns during the recent heatwave, claiming that conditions on board buses during the extreme hot weather is compromising safety for them and their passengers.
Several London bus drivers have revealed to The Standard that the sweltering conditions on board during the recent hot weather made it difficult to concentrate on the road or see properly through the sweat dripping into their eyes. One driver revealed that when temperatures were over 35°C in London - it was up to 42°C inside his cab, making it difficult to grip the steering wheel and causing spells of dizziness.
Although Transport for London has insisted that bus drivers can stop if they feel that the temperature is too unsafe to drive in, and there is a protocol for them to contact the controller and report it, drivers have said that they feel pressure to keep working.
Bus drivers have expressed concerns that some buses, including newer models, remain in service despite air conditioning systems being broken or ineffective. Claims have been made that bosses have allowed buses to go out in the early morning when the air conditioning is less essential, vowing that the bus will be swapped for one with a functioning system later in the day - but instead they remain in service.
The Unite Union has been pushing for improved conditions for drivers, saying that temperatures can often exceed 40 degrees inside driver cabs because glass windows trap heat and create a greenhouse effect. These high temperatures can significantly worsen driver fatigue, putting bus drivers, passengers and pedestrians at risk. These conditions are then made worse, as many drivers avoid drinking water as they do not have proper access to toilets, leading to dehydration.
TfL has said that all bus driver cabs are fitted with air cooling systems, and they will ensure that hot weather plans are in place.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said that the Mayor and TfL take London’s bus drivers’ safety and welfare seriously and are putting more support and hot weather plans in place.