Request ID: FOI-3308-2324 Date published: 16 January 2024
You asked
Please advise number and nature of bus passenger accidents occurring on stairways of
double-decker buses over the past 24 months, together with how and when such incidents are recorded.
What actions have been taken and what were the results?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3308-2324
Thank you for your request received on 18 December 2023 asking for further information about bus stairway accidents. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked for: Please advise number and nature of bus passenger accidents occurring on stairways of double-decker buses over the past 24 months, together with how and when such incidents are recorded. Please find the requested information attached. Please note the following: • This is a data extract from the database of all confirmed incidents recorded under the Buses business areas (this includes all the bus operators, as well as the TfL buses business area, which largely covers bus station operations), with the event type 'Slip Trip Fall = A1. In Stairs Area' • Some incidents of falls on stairs result in no injuries, and some result in injuries to one or multiple people; this information is recorded in the 'Injuries' column • Other details about each incident have been provided - such as the route number, the operator and the borough the incident took place in • There were a total of 1,595 incidents over the past 24 months (between 27 December 2021and 27 December 2023 inclusive), with 922 associated injuries. These numbers are subject to change as incidents get added and updated within the system Please also note that some of the incidents listed will have occurred on stairs within bus stations (rather on the stairs of buses), however we are unable to determine this without reviewing each incident description. To do this would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the FOI (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. What actions have been taken and what were the results? Through our Bus Safety Standard, we introduced Level 1 Bus Occupant-friendly interior safety measures in 2021. These include requirements for the staircase, as well as seat positions, handrail construction and installation, and guards for exposed seats. Level 2 Bus Occupant-friendly interior measures, which push for more challenging safety changes, are required for new buses in 2024 and aim to further improve the safety of bus occupants. We have recently developed a new bus customer injuries workstream. This is focused on innovative features and technology that can be introduced on new buses through the Bus Safety Standard as well as initiatives focused on safe behaviours, including bus driver training and customer communications. In July 2023, we launched the Bus Safety Innovation Challenge focused on trialling solutions to reduce bus customer injuries from slips, trips and falls. We will fund London Bus Operators to run these trials, with up to £100,000 per trial available and a total funding limit of £1,000,000 for the Innovation Challenge. Stairwell falls is one of the four focus areas, and one application aims to mitigate against these incidents. If their bid for funding is successful, this will be trialled next year. In addition to successful Innovation Challenge applications, we will be trialling several innovations aimed at reducing customer injuries in the new year. These include ‘hold the handrail’ posters within the stairwell area of the bus, an audible safety message asking passengers to hold onto the handrails when the bus is in motion, and the original Routemaster ‘ding ding’ sound to indicate to customers the bus is ready to depart. All innovations trialled will be independently assessed, and aim to contribute towards reducing customer injuries, including those sustained through incidents on the stairwell. We have recently engaged independent behavioural science experts to assist us in better understanding the customer safety issues and how to effectively address or eliminate these issues. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
