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Buses: Driving

Asked by Mr Richard HoldenConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 18 September 2025UIN 76651

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of removing the 50km restriction for 18- to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers on the (a) number of available drivers and (b) quality of (i) rural and (ii) long-distance bus services.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

The previous government launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions to allow 18 to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach for distances exceeding 50km when driving a regular service. The previous government did not publish a response to its consultation before it left office.

This government is now working closely with operators to obtain further evidence and will then consider next steps.

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