Transport for London (TfL) has published the second phase of its Bus Safety Standard policy, setting out mandatory requirements for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and driver monitoring technologies for all new buses entering service in the capital through 2033.
The updated standard forms part of London’s wider Vision Zero programme, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the transport network. The latest phase includes a focus on in-vehicle intelligence systems designed to prevent collisions before they occur and to detect driver impairment in real time.
Expanded ADAS Requirements
A central feature of the new standard is the introduction and expansion of ADAS technologies across London’s bus fleet. These systems are intended to reduce the most common causes of bus-related collisions, particularly those involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
One of the key mandated systems is a Moving-Off Information System (MOIS). This technology prevents a bus from pulling away if a pedestrian or cyclist is detected directly in front of the vehicle. The system uses forward-facing sensors and real-time object detection to intervene during one of the highest-risk phases of bus operation—departure from stops and junctions.
The standard also significantly expands the role of Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB). Under the updated requirements, AEB must now support not only forward collision scenarios but also turning manoeuvres, where blind spots and complex urban interactions increase risk. This extension reflects growing evidence that many serious bus incidents occur during low-speed turning movements in dense city environments like London.
In addition, TfL is introducing acceleration suppression systems, which are designed to prevent unintended rapid acceleration. These systems monitor driver input and surrounding conditions, intervening when unsafe throttle application is detected—particularly in congested or pedestrian-heavy areas.
Driver Monitoring Systems
Alongside vehicle-based ADAS, the new standards place strong emphasis on driver state monitoring technologies. These systems are intended to detect early signs of fatigue, distraction, or reduced attention and issue escalating alerts to the driver.
Following large-scale trials involving approximately 400 buses, TfL will require fatigue and distraction monitoring systems to be fitted across future fleets. These systems use in-cab sensors, such as eye-tracking cameras and steering behaviour analysis, to identify signs of diminished alertness.
When risk indicators are detected, the system provides a multi-layered response, including visual, audible, and tactile alerts. Importantly, these monitoring systems will activate at speeds as low as 5 km/h, significantly lower than the 20 km/h threshold required under current national regulations. This change reflects TfL’s focus on addressing risk not only at high speed but also in stop-start urban driving conditions.
Read more about the second phase of TfL’s Bus Safety Standard policy, here.
