'The London bus driver's reality is frightening'

"I think if passengers knew the reality of the bus driver's life, they'd be actually very frightened," says Toni, one of London's bus drivers.

Speaking at a rally outside Transport for London's (TfL) headquarters on Thursday, she said she regularly felt fatigued.

Heat and lack of available toilets are other concerns bus drivers have raised.

The protest for improved working conditions comes as the London Assembly tabled a unanimously backed motion for a "Bill of Rights" for drivers last month. TfL says protections already exist in law and in its contracts.

Last year, there were a record number of complaints about buses being too hot.

The mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has pledged support for drivers during heatwaves but has not outlined specific measures.

Toni added: "I regularly feel so fatigued that I would feel slightly nauseous."

Her concerns were echoed by another driver, Paul, who said: "You're always constantly tired.

"It's 40 minutes for lunch, it's non-stop working.

"You've got no room for any kind of family life. If you've got a hobby, forget it."

Another of London's thousands of bus drivers, Jason, told BBC London "life is not good".

He said: "There's the toilet dignity issue which means that on certain routes there are no toilets or the toilets are of extremely poor quality.

"Driving in the summer is stifling. It's horrible. We have thermometers in the cab and it's got to over 40 degrees. It's impossible driving in that temperature."

Reform UK Assembly Member Keith Prince tabled the motion for drivers to have access to toilets on all routes, rest breaks, no forced overtime, the right to report safety concerns without fear of punishment and working air-cooling and heating systems.

He told BBC London: "We're living in the 21st Century - how can it be acceptable that bus drivers are expected to drive on a route and at the end of that, they haven't even got the basic facilities of a toilet?

"Completely unacceptable. And then when it's hot, they're being forced to drive in absolutely inhumane conditions and when it's freezing cold, the same."

In a statement, TfL said bus drivers played an "essential role" in keeping London moving and that alongside bus operators, it took their "safety and welfare seriously".

"We regularly engage with Unite the Union on these matters. We are working together on a range of measures to further improve working conditions, health and wellbeing.

"We are committed to ensuring that all staff have a fair work schedule, with safe vehicles and access to the facilities they need to carry out their roles effectively.

"We would like to reassure colleagues again that any reports from drivers are always fully investigated and our operators should never take action against people raising concerns about welfare."

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