London bus drivers are facing temperatures of more than 40C inside their cabs during heatwaves, according to a trade union.
Unite the Union says the extreme heat inside cabs is putting drivers, passengers, and the public at risk by increasing fatigue and reducing concentration levels.
Drivers have reported that newer bus models are still going into service in London despite having broken air conditioning.
Some buses are only equipped with air cooling systems that cannot sufficiently reduce temperatures in the cab.
Unite calls for urgent action
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “For too long, London bus drivers have suffered from the effects of high temperatures while TfL and bus companies have failed to act.
“It is absolutely unacceptable.
“Every year we have the same problem during hot weather and yet no progress is being made to protect workers.
“This is a serious problem that risks the safety of drivers as well as millions of Londoners.
“It requires immediate, decisive action, which Unite will not stop fighting for.”
Why bus cabs become so hot
Heat inside bus cabs can rise to over 40C because of a greenhouse effect created by glass windows trapping the sun’s rays.
High temperatures make driver fatigue worse, slowing reaction times, causing dizziness, and increasing the risk of fainting at the wheel.
Long shifts in these conditions can become extremely dangerous.
Some drivers also avoid drinking water to limit toilet breaks, which can lead to dehydration.
Many newer London buses have air cooling systems rather than full air conditioning.
These systems only circulate external air inside the cab without actively cooling it.
As a result, temperatures can still reach unsafe levels.
Drivers regularly report that air conditioning is often faulty and doesn’t reduce the air temperature.
Drivers describe conditions inside cabs
One driver told Unite: “There is poor maintenance of buses.
“Heating and air conditioning never works, if it does you can’t control to individual needs.”
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Another said: “In the hot weather, the cabs can get unbearably hot and stuffy.
“It is not good for our alertness and health, as well as our customers, who are suffering as well.”
Concerns over safety and reporting issues
Unite believes that if air cooling or air conditioning is not functioning, the bus should not go into service.
The union also says that drivers should be able to raise safety concerns without fear of being disciplined or losing pay.
Pressure to complete routes and avoid delays often leads to overtime, further increasing fatigue.
Ms Graham said: “No progress is being made to protect workers.”
Union warns current measures are not enough
Nadine Edwards, regional officer at Unite, echoed those concerns.
Ms Edwards said: “While TfL and the bus companies claim to have protocols in place for managing driver health and safety during heatwaves, it is clear these go nowhere near far enough.
“They must work with Unite to find meaningful solutions to this problem and ensure drivers are not disciplined when they speak up about a bus needing to be taken out of service as it is not fit to operate in high temperatures.
“If this does not happen as a matter of urgency, drivers and the public will remain at risk.”
Fight Fatigue Now campaign
Unite’s ‘Fight Fatigue Now’ campaign is calling for a formal approach to managing fatigue and more robust protections for drivers.
Demands include a stop to disciplining drivers who report fatigue, a minimum of 12-hour breaks between shifts, and better rest and toilet facilities.
The union’s survey found that 52 per cent of London bus drivers said facilities at work were poor.
Some drivers reported being forced to take breaks by the side of the road.
TfL response
Lorna Murphy, director of buses at Transport for London (TfL), said: “Alongside bus operators, we take our bus drivers’ safety and welfare seriously and contracts rightly require operators to meet high standards.
“Bus drivers play an essential role in keeping the capital moving and we are working together on a range of measures to improve working conditions, health, and wellbeing.
“Our bus operators have a comprehensive hot weather plan in place to protect all staff and customers during the warm weather, including air cooling systems fitted in all driver cabs.
“If air cooling systems on a vehicle are not functioning and drivers do not feel they can carry out their duties safely, they should contact the controller and action will be taken to support them.”
Ms Murphy said: “We encourage any driver with concerns to contact their employer, their union, or the Confidential Incident Reporting & Analysis Service (CIRAS) anonymously.
“We would like to reassure staff again that any reports from drivers are always fully investigated and our operators should never take action against people raising concerns about welfare.
“We value all feedback from the thousands of people who work tirelessly to keep London’s bus network moving.”
Measures in place across the fleet
All driver cabs are fitted with air cooling systems, and buses include reflective roofs, insulation, and opening windows.
All new double-decker buses in London now have air cooling as standard.
More than 3,000 of London’s buses are zero-emission, a third of the total fleet, and TfL says these vehicles generate less heat.