London is set to roll out a groundbreaking safety innovation later this year as Volvo BZL Electric buses equipped with City Brake, a new form of Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB), enter real-world service.
The system, developed in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL), represents a major step toward Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Vision Zero target of eliminating all fatalities and serious injuries on the capital’s roads by 2041, with a specific goal of zero bus-related deaths by 2030.
Rachel Birrell, TfL’s Bus Safety Development Manager, said: Our Vision Zero approach demonstrates the importance of ensuring a safe bus network for everyone. Mistakes happen, and the transport system needs to be designed to accommodate human error while minimizing risk.
A First for City Buses
While AEB is widely used in cars, trucks, and coaches, it has not previously been applied to buses due to the challenges of passenger movement and lack of seatbelts. Volvo’s new City Brake adapts the technology for urban buses, using a two-phase system:
- A pre-brake reduces speed and alerts the driver with a haptic signal.
- If no action follows, full braking is applied to minimize collision risk, while reducing discomfort for standing passengers.
Extensive research underpinned the rollout. TfL commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and Apollo Vehicle Safety to analyze over 1 million km of London bus journeys. Findings showed the technology could prevent up to 25% of pedestrian fatalities involving buses, while false activations posed significantly lower risks than previously assumed.
Testing Before Full Rollout
The first Volvo BZL Electric buses with City Brake will begin service this autumn in “shadow mode,” collecting performance data without activating emergency braking. A full rollout will follow once testing confirms safety standards.
Thomas Forsberg, Head of Safety at Volvo Buses, said: We first launched AEB in 2015 for coaches, and now we’ve fine-tuned it for city buses. The technology reacts within seconds, crucial for preventing pedestrian collisions in urban traffic.
Wider Impact
TfL’s Bus Safety Standard, first published in 2018, continues to push safety innovation beyond regulation. Other UK cities, including Manchester and Belfast, are preparing to align with TfL’s model, and Volvo Buses is exploring global deployment.
London’s iconic 9,000-strong bus fleet carries 1.6 billion passengers annually, and TfL plans to make the entire network zero-tailpipe emission by 2030, potentially saving 5 million tonnes of carbon over 20 years.
With City Brake technology, London’s red buses are set not only to become greener but also significantly safer for passengers, pedestrians, and all road users.
