London MEP gets EU promises on bendy bus safety

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 26th Sep 2007

Following a call from London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford, the European Commissioner for transport Jacques Barrot has promised to look into concerns about the high number of 'bendy bus'-related accidents on London's streets. Sarah said:

"I drew his attention to the facts established by my London Assembly colleague Geoff Pope, that bendy buses were involved in five accidents a day last year, a total of 1751. Indeed, each bendy bus in London's fleet has on average 5 accidents a year, an accident rate 75% higher than for other types of bus."

"Pedestrians are twice as likely to be injured on bendy bus routes and cyclists 3 times as likely. Some Londoners like these buses while others hate them, but all of us want to minimise the risks."

When Commissioner Barrot responded by citing relevant EU legislation on articulated vehicles and drivers' training, Sarah Ludford asked him to check that Mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London were properly applying the rules and he undertook to do that. Sarah said:

"I am pleased that the European Commission is going to investigate whether EU laws are being observed in the interests of Londoners' safety. The present situation of dangerous bendy buses is clearly unacceptable, and I welcome potential European action to make passengers, pedestrians and other road users more secure in London's busy streets."