FOI request detail

Please hold on’ iBus announcement

Request ID: FOI-4264-1718
Date published: 26 February 2018

You asked

Thank you for your responses. I understand from these responses that you have introduced the announcement as a response to accidents on Ibus. Presumably you have decided to do this on the basis of clear statistical evidence. Please provide the statistics you are relying on as follows: 1 The number of accidents per year caused by buses starting to move for each year for the last 5 years 2 The number of accidents on buses in general each year (using any categorisation you employ) for the last 5 years 2 The number of bus passenger journeys per year for the last 5 years 3 Any trend analysis undertaken . It has been suggested in the media that these announcements are for a trial period. Please specify the period of the trial and the evidence base and metrics you intend to use to determine the outcome of the trial.

We answered

Our Ref:          FOI-4264-1718

Thank you for your request received on 24 January 2018 asking for information about the new ‘Please hold on’ iBus announcement. I apologise for the delay in my response.

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 hold some of the information you require. You asked for:

1. The number of accidents per year caused by buses starting to move for each year for the last 5 years

We do not hold the requested information as there is no ‘bus started to move’ category in our safety management system. We collect the data at a slips, trips and fall level as there might be many causes for a single incident such as how the bus was in motion. This might include emergency braking to avoid colliding with a vulnerable road user, accelerating quickly and steering sharply. These causes might occur in conjunction with other factors such as someone not using hand rails or taking an available seat, being alcohol or mobility impaired, and carrying heavy bags. Bus operators who are responsible for managing the risks associated with operating their vehicles undertake investigations into all significant incidents that occur on their vehicles to understand the causes and help minimise the chances of them recurring. TfL does not hold the operator investigation findings of each and every incident on the network but it does seek the outcomes of serious injuries and details of root-cause learning. Separately, we independently monitor how drivers operate vehicles across the network to assure ourselves this meets professional standards and helps reduce risk as much as possible. We also encourage passengers to act safely by holding on when moving through the vehicle, and where possible remaining seated until the vehicle has stopped.

2. The number of accidents on buses in general each year (using any categorisation you employ) for the last 5 years

Accident safety data (incidents and safety dashboards highlighting key trends and variances) is published openly on our website every quarter at https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/bus-safety-data. In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, TfL is not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.

3. The number of bus passenger journeys per year for the last 5 years

Bus passenger data is available on our website at the following address:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/buses

Data is available covering the period 2010/11 to 2016/17 and also includes bus mileage.

4. Any trend analysis undertaken

As part of ongoing review of incident statistics it was observed that the trend in on board slips trips and falls was not improving in the way that we would hope. The Bus Safety Programme is looking at a raft of potential measures aimed at reducing the number of accidents and incidents, and this trial complements that work.

The latest published results from the Q3 London Buses Safety Dashboard on our website (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/bus-safety-data) includes graphs and summary statistics that highlight a steep upward trend of injuries associated to on board incidents (p.9). Overall 60% of all slip trip fall incidents resulted in an injury. In Q3, this equated to 749 persons being injured.

It has been suggested in the media that these announcements are for a trial period. Please specify the period of the trial and the evidence base and metrics you intend to use to determine the outcome of the trial.
                                                                                     
The dates for the trial were from January 12 to February 9. We are currently collating incidents data so we can compare slips, trips and fall statistics before, during and after the trial, to see whether passenger behaviour altered, and whether this has had a positive impact upon the numbers of reported incidents.

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

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

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