PFD report

Ezh arul Islam · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 6 Jun 2016•North London

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
7

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Lack of a system to alert passengers that the bus is about to move
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. Action

    Develop the Bus Safety Standard for London Buses, including consideration of the recommendation for a passenger movement alert and other safety technologies and designs.

    Stated by Transport for LondonStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 6 June 2016.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Position

    The bus conductor’s bell was not used to warn passengers that the bus was about to move.

    Stated by Transport for LondonDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of a system to alert passengers that the bus is about to move

Wider context from the report

“That there was no system to alert passengers that the 191 bus was about to move. In the past the signal that a bus was about to move would have been the conductor saying hold on tight and sounding a bell twice in rapid succession. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Develop the Bus Safety Standard for London Buses, including consideration of the recommendation for a passenger movement alert and other safety technologies and designs.

Verbatim wording from the response

“TfL is also developing a Bus Safety Standard for London Buses which involves the consideration of a range of innovative and new technologies to continue to improve safety on buses. Such technologies could include collision avoidance systems which utilise sensors to warn bus drivers of potential dangers and trigger Automatic Emergency Braking systems, and Intelligent Speed Assistance. Other potential design innovations to be considered include improving wing mirror design and windscreen glazing to reduce the impact of any collision. Part of the work of the Bus Safety Standard for London involves”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 2 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

The bus conductor’s bell was not used to warn passengers that the bus was about to move.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Your report refers to the past in which you say that the bus conductor signalled to customers when the bus was about to move by saying hold on tight and sounding a bell twice in rapid succession. The traditional role of a bus conductor was to collect fares, maintain the safety of the open platform and signal to the driver that it was safe to move away from the stop. The number of bus conductors significantly reduced during the 1990’s and early 2000’s as the use of the traditional routemaster was phased out of service. Bus conductors did not indicate to customers when the bus was to move and the use of the bell was to advise the driver that customers wishing to board or alight from the bus had done so. The bell was not used as a method of warning customers that the bus would be moving.”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 1 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.6

  1. 1

    Train bus drivers to ensure elderly and disabled passengers are seated or holding handholds before departing or accelerating.

    Stated by Transport for LondonStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 6 June 2016.
  2. 2

    Provide priority seating with suitable signage for elderly, disabled and less mobile passengers.

    Stated by Transport for LondonStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 June 2016.
  3. 3

    Install appropriately positioned handholds throughout buses to help passengers remain secure while buses move.

    Stated by Transport for LondonStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 June 2016.
  4. 4

    Hold a seminar with London bus manufacturers to engage them in contributing to the Bus Safety Standard.

    Stated by Transport for LondonStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 June 2016.
  5. 5

    Limit bus acceleration through engine management systems to improve passenger stability when moving from stationary positions.

    Stated by Transport for LondonStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 June 2016.
  6. 6

    Invest in a two-year programme enhancing bus drivers’ customer-service skills, empathy and allowance for elderly passengers to secure themselves before movement.

    Stated by Transport for LondonStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 6 June 2016.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Train bus drivers to ensure elderly and disabled passengers are seated or holding handholds before departing or accelerating.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As mentioned above, we have an ongoing training programme for our bus drivers to ensure that before they leave a bus stop or accelerate, elderly and disabled customers have found seats or hand holds. We are also currently investing in a 2 year programme for all bus drivers to enhance their customer service skills with particular focus on understanding and empathy for customers’ needs which includes allowing time for elderly customers to be securely positioned prior to moving from a stationary position.”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 2 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide priority seating with suitable signage for elderly, disabled and less mobile passengers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Much work has been done over the last few years to ensure that safety for our customers on buses continues to improve. We have installed a large number of appropriately positioned and designed hand holds throughout our buses enabling customers to hold on whilst the bus is moving and departing. We have ensured that there is appropriately positioned priority seating available supported with suitable signage for elderly and disabled customers and those less able to stand or mobile. Also through the engine management system of our buses, we limit the acceleration of the bus, which means that drivers cannot move forward quickly, and gives more stability for customers whilst the bus is transitioning from a stationary position either at a bus stop or in traffic.”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 2 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Install appropriately positioned handholds throughout buses to help passengers remain secure while buses move.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Much work has been done over the last few years to ensure that safety for our customers on buses continues to improve. We have installed a large number of appropriately positioned and designed hand holds throughout our buses enabling customers to hold on whilst the bus is moving and departing. We have ensured that there is appropriately positioned priority seating available supported with suitable signage for elderly and disabled customers and those less able to stand or mobile. Also through the engine management system of our buses, we limit the acceleration of the bus, which means that drivers cannot move forward quickly, and gives more stability for customers whilst the bus is transitioning from a stationary position either at a bus stop or in traffic.”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 2 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Hold a seminar with London bus manufacturers to engage them in contributing to the Bus Safety Standard.

Verbatim wording from the response

“considering the nature of accidents and collisions on or involving buses and identifying measures which can be taken to either avoid such accidents and collisions or mitigate their impact. TfL recently held a seminar with all the bus manufacturers who supply London’s buses to ensure that they are also fully engaged and contribute proactively with the Bus Safety Standard and lead the trials of both new technology and bus design to identify the most appropriate solutions. Your recommendations will therefore be considered as part of the Bus Safety Standard for London to find the most appropriate solution.”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 3 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Limit bus acceleration through engine management systems to improve passenger stability when moving from stationary positions.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Much work has been done over the last few years to ensure that safety for our customers on buses continues to improve. We have installed a large number of appropriately positioned and designed hand holds throughout our buses enabling customers to hold on whilst the bus is moving and departing. We have ensured that there is appropriately positioned priority seating available supported with suitable signage for elderly and disabled customers and those less able to stand or mobile. Also through the engine management system of our buses, we limit the acceleration of the bus, which means that drivers cannot move forward quickly, and gives more stability for customers whilst the bus is transitioning from a stationary position either at a bus stop or in traffic.”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 2 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Invest in a two-year programme enhancing bus drivers’ customer-service skills, empathy and allowance for elderly passengers to secure themselves before movement.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As mentioned above, we have an ongoing training programme for our bus drivers to ensure that before they leave a bus stop or accelerate, elderly and disabled customers have found seats or hand holds. We are also currently investing in a 2 year programme for all bus drivers to enhance their customer service skills with particular focus on understanding and empathy for customers’ needs which includes allowing time for elderly customers to be securely positioned prior to moving from a stationary position.”

Source location

2016-0214-Response-by-Transport-for-London
Page 2 · response
Published 6 June 2016

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026