Those in attendance at the launch last week of the Driver CPC module aimed at tackling violence against women and girls on buses heard some startling statistics.
Nearly three quarters of women (72%) are worried about sexual harassment on public transport. Another survey showed that women and girls spend, on average, £528 per year to avoid public transport in the interests of safety. Transport for London data last autumn revealed that sexual offences against women on buses in the capital rose by 28.6% from 2022/23 to 2024/25.
Poignantly, male attendees at the event at First Bus depot in Basildon, which gave a taster of the forthcoming Confederation of Passenger Transport-commissioned module, were asked what they did to avoid being sexually harassed on public transport. After a few responded “nothing”, the women added a long list of suggestions for what they tend to do in the same situation.
The training module is designed to help drivers identify and safely combat incidents of harassment. Though stressing that drivers are not expected to be the police or “Superman”, it shows how relatively small actions can help by means of a “four Ds” approach: distract, direct, delegate and document.
As much as the module can be a significant aid in avoiding losing patronage from among one half of the population, should the industry be taking a broader approach? Those negative statistics are important to relay, particularly when addressing the industry internally, to highlight the scale of the problem we face. However, we must also promote to the public the positive aspects of coach and bus travel when it comes to passenger safety.
As of 2025, 98% of buses had CCTV on board, according to Department for Transport data. This has increased from 46% in 2006. Each bus could have up to a dozen cameras or more. While the perception of safety on buses is a concern for the industry, the reality is that surveillance on buses has massively improved and people are surely much safer at night on board an sufficiently busy service than on the streets.
West Midlands Combined Authority data highlighted that reported crimes on its buses were calculated at 1.7 per 100,000 passenger journeys – around one third the rate for trains in its jurisdiction.
Sufficient positive messaging, including signage regarding CCTV, is a must. Stagecoach East’s participation in Businesses Against Abuse, launched in 2024 and developed nationally recently, centres on driver training but also carries the “This bus is a safe space” passenger messaging.
Although drivers have an important part to play as the “eyes” on a bus, it is often easier for fellow passengers to identify potential and live threats. Much like the “See it. Say it. Sorted.” message on trains, could a campaign directed at the public communicate how they can safely have a role? “Safely” is the key word of course, but there ought to be ways – especially with modern technology – of subtly alerting authorities or operators.
As an example of the role of technology, Inclutech’s proposed Safe Travels app, which won government funding for development in 2024, is a platform designed to discreetly report safety concerns in real time. More generally, make sure passengers know how to react when they see someone at risk.
At times, local police and safety marshals have been engaged by authorities to act as reassurance on board and at interchanges. Initiatives such as these should be pushed. Bus stations at night are not always the most inviting places, so improving lighting and visibility should be key.
The expansion of cameras at bus stops is being trialled by TfL, but this so far is an area of potential improvement for local authorities. Clearly visible messaging of passenger safety codes should also ensure all travellers know what is appropriate.
In summary, the Driver CPC module is a significant step forward, but let’s not overlook what else the industry can do.
