3 January 2021
RMT Press Office:
A rising trend of bus and coach fires must be “thoroughly investigated”, transport union RMT has demanded after figures obtained by The Scotsman showed they increased for three consecutive years.
Read article HERE
There have been more than 200 incidents north of the Border since 2015, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service statistics reveal.
They included a coach catching fire while transporting school children in Livingston in 2019, as this footage shot by one of the pupils shows.
RMT has warned that the figures obtained in Scotland are mirrored by a spate of fires on buses across the South West.
RMT General secretary Mick Cash said: "These figures show a concerning increase in the number of bus fires in Scotland recorded in recent years.
“We believe it is important this trend is thoroughly investigated and action taken to tackle the causes of bus fires.
"RMT has longstanding concerns about the risks to bus workers and passengers of vehicle fires.
"There should be a consistent, industry-wide approach to bus safety which ensures all operators are complying with their health and safety duties, there is a comprehensive evacuation procedure that is communicated to bus workers and passengers, operators ensure bus drivers can directly and easily contact emergency services in the event of an incident, all vehicles are regularly maintained and inspected, and the potential for fires is thoroughly risk assessed.”
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