Pedal Confusion: 17 Solutions proposed in 2011 Research

Questions to the Mayor of London – answered at on 23 March 2022.

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Photo of Keith Prince Keith Prince Conservative

Your response to question 2021/4905 did not answer my question. TfL’s 18 February 2011 Research “Identifying Solutions to Pedal Confusion in Buses” identified 17 solutions to pedal confusion. How many of these 17 solutions were implemented by TfL and when?

Photo of Sadiq Khan Sadiq Khan Mayor of London

The 2011 Research ‘Identifying Solutions to Pedal Confusion in Buses’ assessed 17 possible solutions for further investigation to help address pedal confusion (see link - https://content.tfl.gov.uk/solutions-to-pedal-confusion.pdf). The assessment found that 9 of the 17 solutions were ‘not suitable for further investigation’ and therefore not progressed. These are highlighted in red in tables 1 and 4 in the report.

Four solutions identified in the report were found to be ‘suitable for further investigation in conjunction with other design elements’ (highlighted in orange in tables 1 and 4 of the report). These were changing the size of pedals, increasing the distance between pedals, using different pedal types for brake and accelerator and providing integrated tactile indication of accelerator operation. Four solutions were identified as suitable for further investigation (highlighted in green in tables 1 and 4 of the report). These were standardisation of bus pedal layouts, engine cut-off when the driver’s door is opened, improvement of seat adjustments controls and providing training on pedal error.

The solutions identified for further investigation in the 2011 research have been developed through the work on the Bus Safety Standard (BSS). Relevant measures implemented through the BSS include pedal indicator lights which have been required for new buses since 2019, and 2021 requirements which include runaway bus prevention and brake toggling. TfL is currently working on the requirements for potential pedal standardisation and improvements to data collection to improve the evidence base on pedal confusion.