One in six London bus drivers admit they’ve fall asleep at the wheel while working
ONE in six bus drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel, a poll says.
Some claim they are overworked while others were “out late socialising”.
One in five admit they “fight sleepiness” while driving at least two or three times a week. And one in six have dozed off at least once in the past year.
Researchers polled 1,353 of Transport for London’s 25,000 bus drivers. Some hit out at poor pay — suggesting they were being worn out by necessary overtime.
More than one in three had a “close call” because of tiredness in the past year. One in 20 said they were in at least one fatigue-related accident.
The Loughborough University findings also noted that “younger drivers may have social commitments which also reduce their levels of sleep”.
Some asked bosses to provide shower facilities to help them freshen up after cycling to work.
Researchers also highlighted 24-hour operations and traffic congestion in the capital.
The report revealed none of London’s ten bus operators has a “formal or specific policy on fatigue”.
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Union Unite said drivers worked excessive hours due to low pay, and lacked recovery time between long shifts without proper breaks.
It accused bus operators of “flogging workers to the point of exhaustion”.
TFL said it will demand operators have “robust systems” to cut the risk of fatigue by 2020 and has set aside £500,000.
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