PFD report

Stanley HARDY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 2 Aug 2022•Newcastle and North Tyneside

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.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
1

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

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Concerns raised1

  1. Failure to provide bus and coach drivers with safe emergency braking training
    Part of recurring concern: Unreliable emergency-response arrangements for bus and coach drivers
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

    Review all learning materials covering emergency braking and consider whether they need additional or stronger information.

    Stated by Department for TransportStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 29 September 2022.

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

  1. Position

    Existing driver training standards and learning materials are considered sufficient, so the framework will not be amended.

    Stated by Department for TransportExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

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

Failure to provide bus and coach drivers with safe emergency braking training

Wider context from the report

“(1) The coach driver’s evidence was that although he saw the pedestrian in the carriageway he did not forcefully apply his brakes as he had been trained not to do so to protect the welfare of the passengers traveling in his vehicle. (2) Evidence from the Forensic Collision Investigator was that: i. If emergency braking had been applied the coach could have stopped prior to hitting the pedestrian or the collision would have occurred at a significantly reduced speed; and ii. Emergency braking procedures do not form part of the required training for new bus and coach drivers. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unreliable emergency-response arrangements for bus and coach drivers.

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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

Review all learning materials covering emergency braking and consider whether they need additional or stronger information.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We therefore do not propose to amend that framework, but given the importance of this matter, the DVSA will ensure that all learning materials where emergency braking skills are covered are reviewed at the next opportunity; and consider whether these sections could benefit from additional or stronger information.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 3 · response
Published 29 September 2022

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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

Existing driver training standards and learning materials are considered sufficient, so the framework will not be amended.

Verbatim wording from the response

“You are correct that there is, in a strict reading of the terms, no “required training” for a bus or coach driver (that is, there is no legally mandated training course). I am however satisfied that there is an appropriate framework in place to promote and support safe braking skills; DVSA’s National Standards set out what is expected of bus and coach drivers and the official learning materials support the knowledge and skills that drivers are expected to understand and demonstrate.”

Source location

Response from Department for Transport
Page 2 · response
Published 29 September 2022

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