Bus safety targets lowered

London's transport chiefs have lowered the driving safety target imposed on the capital's buses, it emerged today.

One month after the Evening Standard exposed the poor standard of bus driving in the capital, officials from Transport for London have now told bus companies that 70 per cent of the "drives" they offer London's public must be judged "acceptable" by inspectors.

But earlier this year, the requirement was that 80 per cent of driving performances should be acceptable.

Even so, bus companies have again dramatically failed to hit even the lowered target. According to new figures for the three months April to July, only 56.8 per cent of the journeys observed could be deemed acceptable.

Forty per cent of the 956 journeys assessed were blighted by serious driving faults while 3.2 per cent involved "dangerous" driving faults. There were more acceptable drives, and fewer marked by serious and dangerous faults, compared with the last quarter of last year. But the figures are still being condemned as unacceptable.

Roger Evans, Tory transport spokesman on the London Assembly, said: "I think they set themselves a target they thought they could achieve but they have been unable to even do that. I think the Mayor must tell us how this decision was taken and what part the TfL board - who are supposed to represent the public - played. This sends all the wrong signals to the bus companies. I want the targets returned to where they were."

Peter Hendy, TfL bus chief, admitted the target has been lowered but denied this will lead to more unsafe journeys.

"We didn't meet the target last year and we didn't meet it this year but things are getting better," he said. "I don't think we have ever achieved the target. But we won't be satisfied with a lower standard of driving."

He said the bus companies were warned to raise their performance after the previous revelations in the Standard. A copy of the story was sent to all of the contractors accompanied by a strong worded covering letter. TfL will now meet the Driving Standards Agency - who conduct the safety tests - to discuss the level at which the target should be set.

"My message to passengers is that rooting out bad driving is critical," Mr Hendy said.

The previous assessment caused widespread concern because, of those drivers whose performance was found to be flawed, 19 per cent were seen using their mobile phones while buses were in motion.

The performance of London's buses and 18,000 bus drivers hits at the very heart of Mr Livingstone's transport strategy.

Until he gains control of the Tube, he must rely on buses for any short-term improvements. He will also expect buses to take thousands more passengers next year when he launches the congestion charge.

The Mayor still believes that between 10 and 15 per cent of the drivers of London's roads will abandon their cars and take to public transport.