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Bus Services: Disability

Asked by Graham LeadbitterScottish National PartyDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 16 January 2025UIN 23665

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of audio-visual announcements by bus operators under the Bus Services Act 2017.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

We recognise the importance of audible and visible route and destination information in helping disabled people and other passengers to use bus services with confidence. On 1st October 2024 the first phase of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (“Accessible Information Regulations”) came into force, requiring vehicles first used on local services since October 2019 to comply. The majority of local services should be compliant by October 2026.

The most recent annual bus statistics indicate that 37.2% of buses in Great Britain incorporated audible and visible route and next stop information provision as at 31st March 2024, but these statistics do not yet reflect the implementation of the Accessible Information Regulations.

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