Bus drivers employed by National Express in the West Midlands have raised concerns about extreme heat conditions in their vehicles during recent heatwaves. Three drivers with over 20 years of service each described working environments where temperatures reached 40C, characterizing the conditions as unbearable and potentially threatening to both driver and passenger safety. They reported physical discomfort including excessive perspiration and noted instances of passengers losing consciousness on buses.
The broader context involves the UK experiencing three consecutive heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 37C last month during what meteorological authorities identified as the nation’s hottest June day on record. Weather officials cautioned that such climate extremes are becoming increasingly frequent occurrences for the UK. These conditions have prompted renewed examination of workplace safety standards for transport workers throughout the UK and Europe.
Unite, the union representing the drivers, attributed the problem partly to design features in older buses, where glass windows create a greenhouse effect that intensifies interior temperatures. Union leadership emphasized that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and called for immediate intervention to prioritize worker and passenger safety over operational costs. The union distributed documentation to drivers outlining their legal entitlements to cease work under unsafe conditions.
National Express acknowledged the recent weather as unprecedented and noted that new electric vehicles in their fleet include air conditioning systems. The company stated that retrofitting older buses was historically not cost-effective given the UK’s traditionally mild climate but indicated this approach may require reassessment if extreme temperatures become routine. Meanwhile, political figures including a Green Party MP and London’s mayor have proposed or pledged measures addressing heat-related workplace protections for transport workers.
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