The Transport for London (TfL) Bus Safety Standard 2 (BSS2) is here, and personalisation for drivers is finally embedded in bus design requirements. Roger Brereton, Head of Sales at steering components manufacturer Pailton Engineering, explains what TfL’s mandated standard for bus procurement from 2029-30 means for the bus industry.
When Pailton Engineering unveiled its electric memory steering column concept at Busworld Brussels in 2019, driver personalisation was still a relatively niche discussion within the bus industry.
Drivers often share vehicles throughout the day, yet unlike office workers, they rarely have a workstation that can be quickly adjusted to suit their individual needs.
Better adjustability, personalised settings and improved ergonomics could help create safer, more comfortable working environments. Seven years later, and TfL has moved that dial significantly.
Case made for bus driver personalisation in 2019
At Busworld Brussels in 2019, Pailton introduced the concept of a steering column capable of storing individual driver preferences and automatically returning to those settings at the touch of a button.
The idea originated from a challenge that operators and drivers knew well. Drivers come in different shapes and sizes, yet many spend long shifts working in cabs that can be difficult to adjust quickly and accurately.
Frequent vehicle changeovers often mean drivers simply accept awkward driving positions rather than spending valuable time making manual adjustments.
The principle behind driver personalisation was to make it easier for every driver to achieve an ergonomic driving position and improve comfort, safety and wellbeing in the process.
Supporting data backs importance of ergonomics
The importance of ergonomics became even clearer following research conducted by union RMT and Pailton Engineering among almost 400 UK bus and coach drivers.
Following a survey with RMT’s members, fresh data was provided on musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints such as back, neck and shoulder pain, especially at a time when driver shortages were growing.
More than 78% of respondents reported suffering from work-related musculoskeletal complaints, including back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain. What’s more, almost a quarter had taken time off work during the previous year because of these conditions.
The survey also revealed that 95% felt bus drivers do not receive the same consideration as office workers when it comes to workplace ergonomic adjustments, while 97% believed they should.
Crucially, 94% believed their working conditions could be improved through more adjustable seating, steering columns and dashboards, while more than 95% felt driver cabs could be designed in a way that better reduces discomfort and injury risk.
Bus Safety Standard 2 validates industry movement
The launch of TfL’s Bus Safety Standard 2 is a major milestone in driver-focused design, with the standard stating that “personalisation settings for seat and other controls” are mandated by 2030.
The original Bus Safety Standard (BSS), introduced in 2018, focused on reducing fatalities and serious injuries involving buses. Independent analysis of that original BSS confirmed that casualty numbers on compliant bus routes fell by approximately 41% over the analysis period.
Bus Safety Standard 2 builds upon those foundations while placing emphasis on the driver environment. As it notes: “We must ensure that their workplace – the bus cab – is comfortable, inclusive and ergonomically designed. Just as in any other workplace, the quality of employees’ surroundings matters for inclusion, wellbeing, recruitment, retention, job satisfaction and comfort.”
Put simply, ideas that once sat on the fringes of design discussions are now accepted industry priorities. Given London’s influence on UK bus procurement, many of the principles embedded within BSS2 are also likely to become the de facto benchmark for future bus design.
Driver personalisation has come a long way since Busworld Brussels 2019. From what was an emerging concept, to now a recognised part of the industry’s approach to safety and vehicle design, is testament to what drivers, OEMs, operators, consultants and suppliers have been saying for years.
