Caroline Russell has welcomed new tougher safety measures for coach operators in London and urged the Mayor to extend them in other areas under Transport for London responsibility, including taxi and private hire vehicles, cycle schemes and river services.
Mayor Sadiq Khan responded to a question Caroline tabled at the December Mayor's Question Time meeting, confirming 'independent confidential reporting (is) to be incorporated as a mandatory health and safety requirement in my Mayoral guidance document for London Service Permits'. [1]
Some coach services operating in London require a London Service Permit to operate.
Caroline Russell said:
"I welcome this step towards safer coach operations which will make London less dangerous for people who walk and cycle.
"The Mayor must now go further and provide the same opportunity for safety concerns to be raised on other services. He must put safety at the heart of his forthcoming transport strategy.
"I urge him to make a confidential whistleblowing policy compulsory on all fleets over which TfL have a duty of care."
Notes to editors
[1] Read Caroline's formal question and the Mayor's response here:
http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/questions/question_291038