A landmark survey by Unite, the UK's leading union, has laid bare the impact of bus driver fatigue in London, which is putting workers, passengers and pedestrians at risk.

Unite surveyed its London bus driver members, receiving over 2,000 responses. It found over a third (36 per cent) of drivers have experienced sleepiness while driving two or three times a week, while 24 per cent had this happen once a week.

Disturbingly, almost half (48 per cent) have had a 'close call' due to fatigue in the past 12 months.

Fatigue causes a higher risk of accidents such as bus crashes. Factors that lead to fatigue include long shifts, insufficient rest time and breaks and inadequate running times resulting in drivers undertaking overtime to complete journeys.

Unite has found London bus drivers are regularly experiencing all of these problems, for example Unite's survey found when asked it was common practice to work 13 days on with one day off with 12 hour shifts also commonplace.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The results of Unite’s survey are damning – the time between rests, poor scheduling, not enough time between shifts and forced overtime is putting both bus drivers and the public in danger. This is a completely unacceptable situation.

“No worker should be overworked to the point where they are so fatigued they are falling asleep at the wheel and risking their lives while doing their job. It is clear that TfL and bus operators are not treating the fatigue crisis with the seriousness it deserves and Unite will fight tooth and nail to ensure this changes.”

Fatigue is more than everyday tiredness which can be easily alleviated by rest. Bus drivers responding to the Unite poll said it was causing them to experience concentration issues and 'micro sleeps' - a fleeting, involuntary episode of lack of consciousness which can last a few seconds and is highly dangerous when driving - as well as health issues including chronic pain, cardiovascular problems and stress and anxiety.

However, many drivers are not telling their employers that they are fatigued as they fear they will be penalised. Unite's poll found 83 per cent fear negative impacts such as discipline, loss of earnings, or loss of rest day working if they tell the company they are fatigued.

There are also serious problems with scheduling. In March 2020, 20 mile per hour speed limits were introduced in London but bus schedules have not significantly changed, meaning drivers do not have enough running time to finish journeys on time.

Out of those polled, two thirds (66 per cent) said this happened frequently, meanwhile over half (53 per cent) of those polled have been forced to do overtime or finish later multiple times a week due to insufficient running times.

In 2019, Loughborough University published a report on London bus driver fatigue, based on around 1,350 respondents. Unite's survey has found a third of bus drivers said the situation with fatigue had become ‘much worse’ since then.

London mayor Sadiq Khan is the chair of TfL, which subcontracts out bus work to private companies through the tendering process.

Unite has launched its Fight Fatigue Now campaign, which is calling on TfL and employers to:

•    Introduce fatigue management into the TfL buses, for example stop disciplining drivers for fatigue, and agreements for drivers who currently have to drive buses in heat-waves with no air-con.

•    Establish consistency across scheduling and rosters, such as a minimum of 12 hour breaks between duties and consistent start times to combat fatigue.

•    Improve rest, toilet and welfare facilities. Unite's poll found 52 per cent of London bus drivers had poor facilities at work, and some drivers still have breaks by the side of the road.

Unite regional officer Nadine Edwards said: “The impact of fatigue on London bus drivers is undeniable and needs to be urgently acted on. Previous action that has been taken by TfL and the bus companies has been pitiful – to the point where the situation has got worse.

“Actual change will only come about from listening to bus drivers who experience this day in day out. TfL and the bus companies must work with Unite to implement our demands, otherwise this situation will continue to put workers and the public at risk.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Case studies

One driver said: "As a bus driver for four years, I have experienced heavy eyelids and loss of concentration which led to missing bus stops and taking a wrong turn or driving ahead through a red light. I have had body aches and felt everything moving in slow motion, had slow reactions."

Another said: "There are times when I am working my fifth, sixth or seventh consecutive day, having already completed around 40 hours in the first four days. During these shifts, I sometimes feel like I am driving on 'autopilot', almost as if I am dreaming. I'm not fully alert and this is extremely dangerous. Fatigue like this can easily lead to serious or even fatal mistakes."

Further case studies and Unite's full comprehensive demands available on request

The survey was conducted at the end of 2025

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite press officer Natasha Wynarczyk on 07970081524

Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org