Ministers plan new fines for late buses
Bus companies are to face fines of up to £550 for late running services, the Press Association reports.
There has been a mixed response to the Government’s new initiative aimed at improving bus services.
Representatives of transport providers have welcomed the move, but warned that operators should not be penalised for circumstances beyond their control.
Under the plans, Ministers have challenged bus operators to get 95 per cent of their vehicles out of depots within five minutes of their scheduled departure.
Companies will face a sliding scale of penalties if they fail to meet the target, with fines kicking in if their performance falls below 70 per cent.
“We are very much supportive of the fines – if buses are late then it is absolutely right operators should be fined,” said Simon Posner of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the body which represents Britain’s bus firms.
“If three buses do come at once it is generally because there has been a burst water main or other problems causing traffic build-up,” he added, stressing that traffic commissioners have ruled that firms cannot be held responsible for late-running services caused by congestion and roadworks.
But a union representing bus drivers has warned that staff could be placed under pressure by the fines.
A spokeswoman for the T&G union said: “We are supportive of better services for bus users but we want to ensure bus companies provide proper resources to guarantee they meet targets rather than putting extra pressure on bus drivers.”
It is reported that the new system of fines will be enforced by traffic commissioners with semi-independent status, who are appointed by local authorities.
