London bus drivers have revealed the sweltering conditions on board during hot weather is compromising safety, saying they can struggle to concentrate on the road or see properly through the "sweat dripping on your eyes".
A number of drivers have told the Standard about the brutal conditions they have been subjected to during the heatwave.
It comes as London’s mayor vowed on Friday to get more support for bus drivers to help them cope with the hot weather.
One driver said on Wednesday - when a temperatures of over 35C was recorded in London - it was up to 42C inside his cab.
“It's not even the same heat that you're feeling outside. It's much more.
“You're trying to hold onto the steering wheel, but your hands are sweating, you're losing control and you’ve got sweat dripping over your eyes and you're just feeling dizzy, you can't concentrate on the road.
“You see the traffic lights just glaring. You just gotta stop sometimes and be like, ‘woah is this even safe?’”
Another said he “struggled to actually see” as sweat flowed into his eyes.
Drivers have faced scorching temperatures all week - with London recording a record 36C on Friday.
TfL insists if a bus driver feels temperatures make it unsafe to drive, it is appropriate of them to stop, and there is a protocol for them to contact the controller and report it. But drivers say they feel pressure to keep working.
“You can't call it a day, because then you'll get called into the office and they'll question you, why? Why did you stop the bus? You’re just losing mileage, you're losing money for the company. We're not giving the service out to the passengers.”
The drivers expressed concern that some buses, including newer models, remain in service despite air conditioning being broken while some models of buses are only equipped with less effective air cooling systems.
They say bosses allow the buses to go out in the early morning when the air conditioning is less essential vowing that the bus will be "swapped out" for one with a functioning system later in the day - but in reality they remain in service.
The Unite Union has been pushing for improved conditions for drivers, saying temperatures can often exceed 40 degrees inside driver cabs, as glass windows trap heat and create a ‘greenhouse’ effect.
High temperatures can significantly worsen driver fatigue, putting bus drivers, passengers and pedestrians at risk, it has said.
Meanwhile many drivers avoid drinking water as they do not have proper access to toilets, leading to dehydration, the union revealed.
TfL says all bus driver cabs are fitted with air cooling systems and has been in regular contact with bus companies this week to discuss this and ensure hot weather plans are in place.
Pressure has been mounting on London Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL to do more. A video of a bus driver from last year pouring water over his head to cool down as he complains about the heat went viral again this week with fresh footage of him this year complaining about the heat on his bus.
A London bus driver has had to pull over because the heat became unbearable, needing bucket of water poured over his head just to cool down.
— Benonwine (@benonwine) June 23, 2026
He asks a very fair question for Sadiq Khan
“What temperature is your office?”
Air conditioning on buses should be standard, not luxury. pic.twitter.com/eaTwd1v79f
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor and TfL take London’s bus drivers’ safety and welfare very seriously.
"The Mayor recognises the vital role of London’s hard-working bus drivers to keep the capital moving around the clock, and he is committed to continually improving working conditions.
“The Mayor is in close contact with TfL during the heatwave and has asked that they work with bus operators to put in place more support for drivers. This is in addition to the comprehensive hot weather plan in place to protect all staff and customers during the warm weather.
"All driver cabs are fitted with air cooling systems and checks on these are taking place. If air cooling systems on a vehicle are not functioning and drivers do not feel they can carry out their duties safely, they should contact the controller and stop driving, with no risk of any penalties.
“The Mayor encourages any driver with concerns to contact their employer, their union, or the Confidential Incident Reporting & Analysis Service (CIRAS) anonymously. All reports are taken seriously and fully investigated.”
Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “Alongside bus operators, we take our bus drivers’ safety and welfare seriously and contracts rightly require operators to meet high standards.
"Bus drivers play an essential role in keeping the capital moving and we are working together on a range of measures to improve working conditions, health and wellbeing.”
She added: "We would like to reassure staff again that any reports from drivers are always fully investigated and our operators should never take action against people raising concerns about welfare. We value all feedback from the thousands of people who work tirelessly to keep London's bus network moving.”
