PFD report

Mrs Sheila Bowling · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 7 Feb 2017•South Yorkshire (Western)

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
0

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
6

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.

No concerns are currently included for this report.

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

    Use vehicle telematics to provide objective driver feedback and integrate driving-behaviour data into driver training.

    Stated by First South Yorkshire LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
  2. 2

    Implement the Be Safe safety training programme, using positive-reinforcement coaching and safety-focused touchpoints across the business.

    Stated by First South Yorkshire LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
  3. 3

    Employ a Driving Standards Manager to monitor and improve driver performance, and manage low-performing drivers through Driving Standards Support Plans.

    Stated by First South Yorkshire LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
  4. 4

    Continue monitoring safety and operational training and make regular improvements through the ongoing review cycle.

    Stated by First South Yorkshire LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
  5. 5

    Require drivers to complete Smiths System safe-driving training and periodic refresher training through DCPC, employee induction and ongoing development.

    Stated by First South Yorkshire LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
  6. 6

    Operate a safe-driving reward scheme providing eligible drivers with an annual bonus for completing 12 months without a blameworthy or at-fault collision.

    Stated by First South Yorkshire LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 February 2017.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Drive Green and driver rewards did not adversely affect safety or contribute to the incident.

    Stated by First South Yorkshire LimitedDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.

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

Use vehicle telematics to provide objective driver feedback and integrate driving-behaviour data into driver training.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Regulation 28 report refers to “Drive Clean”. We understand this to mean the “Drive Green” system installed on our vehicles, which is a vehicle telematics system used to assist in improving the comfort and safety of our bus services and to improve fuel efficiency. Driver performance is monitored by a range of measures, including Drive Green. Drive Green provides an objective assessment of driver performance and is intended to improve driving styles, reduce our carbon footprint, and reduce the number and severity of road traffic collisions and personal injuries. It analyses driving behaviour and provides objective in-vehicle feedback to the driver via an LED light display and online assessment, highlighting when a vehicle has carried out an unusually sharp braking or cornering manoeuvre.”

Source location

2017-0010-Response-by-First
Page 1 · response
Published 19 February 2017

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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

Implement the Be Safe safety training programme, using positive-reinforcement coaching and safety-focused touchpoints across the business.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As one would expect of a responsible operator, First Bus and its operating companies, including First South Yorkshire, continuously monitor safety and operational training, and make regular improvements. As part of this ongoing review cycle, in 2016 First Bus, including First South Yorkshire Limited, implemented a new safety training programme called Be Safe. This replaced the previous programme and underpins the First Bus injury prevention strategy.”

Source location

2017-0010-Response-by-First
Page 2 · response
Published 19 February 2017

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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

Employ a Driving Standards Manager to monitor and improve driver performance, and manage low-performing drivers through Driving Standards Support Plans.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Since late 2015 First South Yorkshire have also recruited a Driving Standards Manager who works closely with drivers to monitor and improve their driving performance. Low performing drivers are now managed through a Driving Standards Support Plan which has helped reduce collisions and passenger injuries on a year to date measurement.”

Source location

2017-0010-Response-by-First
Page 2 · response
Published 19 February 2017

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

Continue monitoring safety and operational training and make regular improvements through the ongoing review cycle.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As one would expect of a responsible operator, First Bus and its operating companies, including First South Yorkshire, continuously monitor safety and operational training, and make regular improvements. As part of this ongoing review cycle, in 2016 First Bus, including First South Yorkshire Limited, implemented a new safety training programme called Be Safe. This replaced the previous programme and underpins the First Bus injury prevention strategy.”

Source location

2017-0010-Response-by-First
Page 2 · response
Published 19 February 2017

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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

Require drivers to complete Smiths System safe-driving training and periodic refresher training through DCPC, employee induction and ongoing development.

Verbatim wording from the response

“At the heart of these systems and to support the concept of safe, smooth driving is the Smiths System training programme. The Smiths system is based on 5 keys”

Source location

2017-0010-Response-by-First
Page 2 · response
Published 19 February 2017

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

Operate a safe-driving reward scheme providing eligible drivers with an annual bonus for completing 12 months without a blameworthy or at-fault collision.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As part of the First South Yorkshire driver reward and recognition scheme, since 2016 each driver is able to earn a modest £20.00 annual safe driving bonus. This payment is subject to meeting qualifying criteria, which requires the driver to have no blame worthy or ‘at fault’ collisions recorded within a 12-month period. It is not in any way linked to Drive Green, which has no connection to a driver’s compensation or bonus payments in First South Yorkshire. Clearly, therefore, Drive Green would have no effect on the likelihood or impact of an incident of this nature. Moreover, even were Drive Green to be linked to a driver’s compensation, all of our drivers are trained to understand that our number one priority is safety and that safety, including avoidance of a collision with a pedestrian, will always take precedence over the desire to provide a smooth ride to passengers on the bus.”

Source location

2017-0010-Response-by-First
Page 2 · response
Published 19 February 2017

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

Drive Green and driver rewards did not adversely affect safety or contribute to the incident.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The safety of our customers, staff and other members of the public is our number one priority and all drivers are made aware of this through regular briefings and training (see below). We strongly refute any suggestion that the Drive Green system, or the way in which drivers are rewarded, would have any adverse impact on safety or the way in which a driver would react to an incident of the nature considered by the November 2013 investigation. In fact, the number of collisions in South Yorkshire has reduced by 23.5% since the introduction of Drive Green in 2010.”

Source location

2017-0010-Response-by-First
Page 1 · response
Published 19 February 2017

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