Asked by
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to
reduce deaths and injuries of vulnerable road users from public
bus collisions in England.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Transport () (Con)
My Lords, the Government are determined to make our roads safer
for all users. The National Bus Strategy made it clear that local
authorities and bus operators should work together to ensure that
bus services are safe and perceived to be safe by all. We also
introduced changes to the Highway Code in 2022 and have delivered
high-quality walking and cycling schemes, which will be vital to
ensuring the safety of vulnerable road users.
(CB)
I thank the Minister for his Answer. Every six weeks, according
to Transport for London's own statistics, on average one person
is killed and 100 people hospitalised by preventable bus
incidents. This is getting no better, despite the fact that the
number of bus journeys has actually reduced. Given that the
London business model is being rolled out to the rest of the
country, do the Government still think that having bus companies
investigating their own incidents is a good idea?
(Con)
My Lords, as I have said, road safety is a priority for the
Government. The department is determined to make roads safer for
everyone, and the delivery of high-quality walking and cycling
schemes, coupled with the changes to the Highway Code in 2022,
will play an important part in addressing the safety concerns of
people wanting to walk, wheel and cycle. Active Travel England is
working with local authorities to ensure that walking and cycling
infrastructure is of the right quality and in the right places to
maximise its value and impact. On the issue of bus companies
investigating themselves, as the noble Lord knows from debates on
the Automated Vehicles Bill, we have no intention of introducing
separate investigation for buses.
(Con)
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that many injuries caused by
buses in fact occur inside the bus, especially to the elderly and
vulnerable? Care needs to be taken in examining any statistics
that suggest how many bus-related injuries arise in a particular
period, to ensure that a distinction is made between those
occurring inside the bus, often because of excessive braking, and
those involving pedestrians in the street.
(Con)
My noble friend makes a very good point. It is a matter for
individual bus companies, and of training. This issue is clearly
of great importance to bus users but, as I say, it is for the bus
companies themselves to ensure that their drivers are properly
trained and take great care.
(LD)
My Lords, there is a particular problem for disabled and
vulnerable passengers using the new bus stops that are in lanes
between cycle paths and the main pavement—not least a very narrow
pavement for wheelchair users trying to leave a bus, and a ramp,
as a result of which you often almost go straight in front of the
cycles. I must tell your Lordships that when you are coming down
a steep ramp, you are not in control of your speed. Are there any
plans to monitor accident numbers and to assess the risks
associated with this new bus stop/cycle lane arrangement?
(Con)
I thank the noble Baroness for that question. The phrase used for
these stops is “floating bus stops”. Local authorities are bound
by the public sector equality duty, and it is for them to ensure
that any infrastructure they install is safe, fit for purpose and
delivered in a way that enables them to comply with equalities
legislation. The department is aware of concerns raised by some
groups about these floating bus stops, and that is why we
co-funded research into the issue, led by Transport Scotland.
This concluded recently and we will consider the findings
carefully in deciding the next steps.
(GP)
My Lords, in fact, bus deaths and injuries are coming down quite
dramatically compared with car deaths and injuries. The latter
have barely moved, whereas bus and coach injuries have come down
by 40% in the last year. I want to congratulate the Government
because, clearly, their policy of depriving local councillors of
funding means that there are fewer bus services and therefore
fewer deaths and injuries from buses.
(Con)
I note the noble Baroness's comments.
(Con)
My Lords, there are concerns, and this issue arises from a
Question we had about road safety. In view of some recent
unsatisfactory accidents, is any consideration being given to
obliging cyclists, particularly those on e-cycles, to have proper
accident insurance in place, and to follow speed limits, like all
other users of the road?
(Con)
My Lords, like all road users, cyclists are required to comply
with road traffic laws in the interests of the safety of other
road users. This is also reflected in the Highway Code. Dangerous
cycling is completely unacceptable, and that is why there are
already strict laws in place for cyclists who break the law. The
police have the power to prosecute if these are broken.
(Lab)
My Lords, can the Minister say how many cyclists were prosecuted
last year? My own background tells me that very few are.
(Con)
I am afraid I am unable to help the noble Lord with a number. I
do not know whether we keep a record of that. I shall find out
and if we do, I will write to the noble Lord.
(Con)
In answer to a previous question, my noble friend said that the
bus companies themselves investigate such accidents and the
cause. Is that information shared among the bus industry as a
whole, or with any regulators or departments, to make sure we
learn lessons from these accidents and that they do not happen
again?
(Con)
I am not aware of that, but I take my noble friend's point. It is
a question of bus companies taking their own steps to ensure that
people are safe while they travel, and that drivers are trained
properly.
(Lab)
Does the Minister agree that, for all the points that have been
made in this short discussion, in the vast majority of cases, bus
drivers, particularly in our cities, deserve our thanks and
respect for safely and successfully navigating the multiple and
increasing challenges they face on our roads? Since buses are the
main means of transport for the elderly, the young, young mothers
with children—the less well-off in our society—should they not be
valued by society as a whole for the public service they offer us
day in, day out?
(Con)
I could not possibly disagree with that. I am a regular bus user
and I agree that they provide a tremendous service, whether it is
in our cities, towns or, indeed, our rural areas.
(CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that pedestrians, cyclists and
e-scooter riders make themselves even more vulnerable and
dangerous to others, including bus drivers, through the
increasing and distracting use of headphones, AirPods and
smartphones in general while on pavements and roads? Are the
Government taking any steps to address this?
(Con)
I agree with what the noble Lord says, but it is an individual
responsibility. It is not for the Government to say, “You should
take care”. A Government can encourage people to take care, but
it is a matter of your own assessment of the risks on the road.
If you wish to wear headphones and take that risk, more fool
you.
(Con)
My Lords, if the present level of injuries, which has been
described, continues, is there not a strong case for introducing
greater regulation? In ordinary circumstances it would not be
necessary, but it does seem to be very necessary in this
sphere.
(Con)
There is quite a bit of legislation on reckless and dangerous
cycling—the penalties are quite high—and on drinking alcohol or
taking drugs while cycling. The penalties and offences are there;
it is a matter of the police enforcing them.
(Lab)
My Lords, the Minister says that it is a matter of the police
enforcing them. Will he tell us how exactly they are expected to
do that, given their current level of resourcing and that there
is no system of licensing or, indeed, of identifying cyclists,
who may simply cycle away having committed the offences to which
he refers?
(Con)
The noble Lord asks how the police are supposed to do it. It is a
matter of being out there and patrolling. I did it myself for 32
years, and I managed to nab a few cyclists.
