Following your response to the GLA report 'Driven to Distraction' it has been publicised that you intend to fit laser eye detectors with vibrating seats to London Buses to ensure bus drivers do not fall asleep whilst driving. Can you confirm that full testing has been done on low level laser use for 8 hours per day pointing at a bus drivers eyes and that no ill effects will occur because of this. Could you provide evidence of this?

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Dear

TfL Ref: FOI-2246-1819

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 24 November 2018.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm we do hold the information you require. You asked:

Following your response to the GLA report 'Driven to Distraction' it has been publicised that you intend to fit laser eye detectors with vibrating seats to London Buses to ensure bus drivers do not fall asleep whilst driving.  Can you confirm that full testing has been done on low level laser use for 8 hours per day pointing at a bus drivers eyes and that no ill effects will occur because of this.

In our response to the GLA’s Driven to Distraction report, we agreed to fund operator trials of fatigue detection systems from our Bus Safety Innovation Fund. This is an operator-led initiative on a small number of vehicles and involves partners who have expertise in this field such as Seeing Machines (see https://www.seeingmachines.com/technology/), who design fatigue alert systems for vehicles operating continuously for long periods, such as in the mining industry.

These systems have been successfully used on London’s trams for more than a year. The technology uses advanced sensors and image processing technology. Small amounts of infrared light are used to allow the sensor to detect physical signs of fatigue in the dark (significantly less than what is received from sunlight).

We understand staff representatives at RATP tested the equipment prior to introduction and fully supported the trial, and that Public Health England had previously carried out testing of Seeing Machines products and found no reason to be concerned about sensors, such as those being used on buses or trams. We await the outcome of our fatigue management research next year to help us consider whether there are areas of concern that might need to be addressed in future. We have no plans to fit this technology to buses currently.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

 

Dear Transport for London,

Following your response to the GLA report 'Driven to Distraction' it has been publicised that you intend to fit laser eye detectors with vibrating seats to London Buses to ensure bus drivers do not fall asleep whilst driving.  Can you confirm that full testing has been done on low level laser use for 8 hours per day pointing at a bus drivers eyes and that no ill effects will occur because of this.

Could you provide evidence of this?

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