Mandatory speed limiters tipped to be enforced on all TfL buses amid major concerns to public safety
New buses need to be fitted with ISA speed technology
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Pedestrians have called for more safety measures to be rolled out on London buses as more Britons have become involved in bus-related incidents.
Data by Transport for London found that more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of serious bus-related injuries involved people walking or bus occupants in 2022.
As a result of this, GB News has been looking into what more TfL can do to keep roads safe for pedestrians.
The channel uncovered several buses in West London which have been fitted with new speed limiters, which has raised concern over whether they should be mandated across all UK travel.
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Drivers will be required to have speed limiters on cars across Europe in July
PAThe intelligent speed assistance technology can automatically slow down a vehicle if a driver exceeds the speed limit on roads.
They have been in force on all new buses in London since 2019 and form part of Transport for London's bus safety standard.
The speed limiters are set to become a legal requirement across all vehicles in Europe from July 7.
The new buses fitted with ISAs are primarily in West London and include the SL7 which is the Superloop bus towards Heathrow Central. It takes passengers all the way from West Croydon Bus Station to the airport.
Another bus affected includes the 371 which takes Britons from one side of Richmond to Kingston.
The 65 route which has speed limiters fitted on it, takes passengers from Ealing Broadway to Kingston upon Thames.
Other routes fitted with ISAs include the R68, R70 and the 490 which take users from Richmond to Heathrow Terminal 5.
TfL detailed in a report: “To deliver safe speeds, we will continue to roll out and monitor Intelligent Speed Assistance, which limits buses to the posted speed limit, helping to normalise lower speed limits in London.”
In 2023, there were 252 people seriously injured in collisions involving a TfL Bus, including passengers.
TfL added: “The programme is broad, including fatigue management, and driver health and wellbeing, such as the delivery of Fatigue Management Awareness Training for all supervisors and managers in the London bus operators.”
TfL said to help reduce the risk of injury, it has fitted 3,795 buses with ISA limiters out 8,600 buses operated in London, with thousands still lacking the key safety feature.
Speed limiters have not been mandated across the UK but the Department for Transport has commissioned research to look at the benefits and implications of these technologies and is expected to provide updates in due course.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
3,795 buses have been fitted with ISA limiters
PEXELSNick Simmons, CEO of RoadPeace said: “It is encouraging to learn that there was a slight decrease in road deaths and serious injuries in London in 2023, but we are still deeply saddened by the tragic and unacceptable loss of life and the extreme suffering caused by collisions in the capital.
“The ripple effect of road crashes goes far beyond the statistics; it devastates families and shatters communities.
“We need collective action and commitment from everyone - drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and policymakers - to see a significant reduction in road deaths and serious injuries and to create safer streets for all.”
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