§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent research his Department has carried out into safety considerations concerning passengers standing in buses; and what discussions he has had with bus and coach operators on the subject of the safety concerns of passengers standing in those vehicles. [26484]
§ Ms KeebleMy Department is currently looking into the issue of standing passengers. We are participating in a research project under the European Community 5th Framework Project—Enhanced Coach and Bus Occupant Safety (ECBOS), which is looking at all safety issues that effect bus passengers. This includes seated and standing passengers, provisions of internal fittings, handholds, steps and gangway slopes inside the vehicle. The findings of this work will be used to influence any future regulatory changes in this area.