London City Hall adopts Bus Driver Bill of Rights after extreme heatwave

London City Hall unanimously backed a motion to introduce a "Bill of Rights" for bus drivers following a sweltering heatwave that saw temperatures in driver cabs reach up to 50 °C. All 21 assembly members present voted in favour of the motion proposed by Reform UK Assembly Member Keith Prince. The proposed rights include access to functional toilets on every route, guaranteed rest breaks, protection from forced overtime and the ability to report safety concerns without fear of reprisal, as well as a requirement that all buses have working air‑cooling and heating systems.

Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged additional support, suspending bus performance contracts during heatwaves and stating that drivers who deem a bus too hot may stop driving without penalty. TfL’s director of buses, Lorna Murphy, affirmed a commitment to driver safety and welfare. Unite the Union criticised operator Arriva for allegedly prioritising profit over driver safety and called for improvements.

Around 1,900 bus drivers across ten depots in north and east London are being balloted on the prospect of strike action over “unbearable” heat conditions, with the ballot running from 1 July to 29 July. A strike could cause significant delays and cancellations across the capital’s bus network.