Bus drivers given 23 stone weight limit

Dean Kirby

October 03, 2009

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BUS drivers have been banned from getting behind the wheel - for being too fat.

Bosses at Stagecoach in Manchester have sent letters to staff warning them they will not be allowed to take charge of a bus if they weigh more than 23 stone.

And those who have 'an issue' because of the weight restriction will be given 'support' to get fitter or will be offered alterative work where available.

The firm says there is a 20 to 23 stone safety limit in the drivers' cabs.

It says it would be extremely rare for any of the drivers in its fleet to exceed the limits.

But the ruling has been described as blatant discrimination by one driver, who claims he was ordered to 'go to Tesco' and get weighed.

The driver, who has asked not to be named, claims he was also told he could not get behind the wheel until he had shed some pounds. He said the letter advised drivers who are 20 stone to see their doctor and those over 23 stone not to drive the buses.

Embarrassing

He said: "I've been a driver for years. It's so embarrassing to be called into the office and to be told to go to the local supermarket to get weighed. Then to be told I am too fat to drive a bus is ridiculous. They are just discriminating against people who are overweight."

Stagecoach says it has reminded all its 14,000 drivers across Britain about the safety limits, which it says are set by bus manufacturers.

The firm says the weight limits do not apply to passengers. It says the issue is with the drivers' seats, because they are adjustable and the mechanisms have maximum safe working loads.

Bobby Morton, from Unite, said: "The company is working with the union to encourage people to lead a healthy lifestyle so an accident doesn't happen. What we've told people is that if there's any incident where they feel compromised or humiliated, they should report it to us."

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Manufacturers set maximum safe working loads for both the driver seat and the overall weight of the vehicle.

"We take the health and safety of our people and our passengers very seriously.

"If this is an issue for an individual employee, they would be provided with our support to lose weight or offered alternative employment if available."

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Phil Taylor, Bolton (03/10/2009 at 09:08)

Surely there's also an issue with the increased likelihood of strokes and heart attacks.

Bet morbidly obese people are not allowed to fly commercial airliners?

the monkey, bolton (03/10/2009 at 09:38)

Time someone shook the reigns.this is still too large a figure,public safety is paramout.We all know the risk to our health by being overweight

Copycat, Castleton (03/10/2009 at 09:54)

I am pleasantly surprised to hear that some bus drivers have sensitive side after all!
Seriously though. let's stop pussyfooting around overweight peoples' hypersensitivity and see this issue for what it is - unhealthy and dangerous to the individual and the public and a drain on resources.
Maintaining normal physical proportions and being able to take responsibility for one's diet and health should be seen as a plus. Many larger types seem to have lost the focus of the real issue and complain about needing wider airline seats, bigger clothes etc.
I have often had to perch on the only remaining bus seat next to a plump person who has the temerity to tut and now am having to fund growing numbers of gastric surgery operations - how can they expect society to finance to the seemingly endless special requirements connected with their often self-imposed condition?

Glad to see that bus companies are continuing to consider my family's personal safety.

selfexiled (03/10/2009 at 09:56)

This is a very real safety issue and I have a friend who as issues with driving and being overweight it as affected his heart and he could fall asleep at the wheel as well as suffer from a stroke.
It often never occurs to someone who is overweight the danger they are to the rest of the road using fraternity.
Someone driving a Public service vehicle that can carry in excess of 50 passengers and will weigh over 20 tons when full should have a medical on the same annual basis as the police and firemen.
This will have to immediate benefits,firstly the Public will be safer and the driver will be healthier.

Proper Sentences (03/10/2009 at 10:17)

A very good idea but the weight of 23 stones is way too high, should be 17 stone maximum, the UK is full of fat, obese, people clogging up the NHS, keeping KFC and Mcdonalds in business.

Acid, Chadderton (03/10/2009 at 10:22)

So if they're 5 foot tall and just under 23 stone then they can carry on driving but if they're 6 foot 6 inches tall and just over 23 stone they can't . Doesn't quite weigh up. ;-)

Cody Coyne (03/10/2009 at 10:59)

What is Stagecoach going to do to ensure the bus drivers have access to weight-controlling measures? Will they install a fitness gym at the bus garage? Will there be a kitchen with cookbooks promoting healthy eating? I don't think they can simply tell their staff to lose several stone without helping. Remember, driving a bus is a rather sedantary job, so people are not going to get the exercise from work.

Rammylad (03/10/2009 at 11:04)

Good point Acid, BMI would be a better measure but at least they are setting the idea in motion. 23 stone this year, 20 next, 17 the year after then BMI after 5 years. Top marks Stagecoach. No doubt you'll get hammered by some EU donkey regulation though.

Peter Gee (03/10/2009 at 12:31)

Doesn't anyone actually read the words in print? The issue isn't with the size or health of the drivers it with the amount of weight the chair can support.

fergiza, rse (03/10/2009 at 14:43)

i think if they want to improve quality of service the should introduce a "WAIT LIMIT" for passengers.

Supreme Being, Manchester. (03/10/2009 at 15:03)

Are bus drivers subject to alcohol and drugs testing before they trundle out the public service vehicle?

RedRef, Manchester (03/10/2009 at 16:16)

23 stone?....MASSIVE" Not a responsible limit.

Squire of Newton, Newton nr. Hyde (03/10/2009 at 16:39)

I certainly wouldn't want to get on a bus wwhere the driver had a serious weight problem ...ferrying the fare paying public about is a job where you need to be alert, and have a certain degree of fitness too.
Good on you Stagecoach.

Acid, Chadderton (03/10/2009 at 18:44)

" Doesn't anyone actually read the words in print? The issue isn't with the size or health of the drivers it with the amount of weight the chair can support.
Peter Gee
3/10/2009 at 12:31"

Oops! Guilty as charged. I'll blame it on my ADD.

wayneold, manc (03/10/2009 at 19:08)

Watch those Kebabs Monique!

Prodriver, Denton (03/10/2009 at 20:01)

So, a fat car driver has a stroke and hits a bus, the outcome is the same. A smoker can have a stroke, Anyone can have a heart attack so where does this nonsense all stop?
Pay the extra for decent seats Stagecoach and stop pretening you are concerned about anything other than your profits or the risk of a claim going in for a broken seat.

J smith (03/10/2009 at 21:06)

Well at least the passengers are not going to get to be 23 stone, all that walking they have to do when the buses keep going on strike..

JayTilzey, m29 (04/10/2009 at 00:22)

There's an interesting parallel here with the story about the Sikh police officer who has been awarded £10,000 for being "made" to wear a helmet to protect his head during riot training. So - OK to ban people from doing their job if they're overweight, not OK to make someone protect themselves (and thereby avoid lawsuits and Health and Safety breaches).

wmueller, Manchester (04/10/2009 at 06:43)

The Bus Company should be able to install proper drivers seats to support enough weight when needed.

steve wilson (04/10/2009 at 14:29)

A very good idea but the weight of 23 stones is way too high, should be 17 stone maximum, the UK is full of fat, obese, people clogging up the NHS, keeping KFC and Mcdonalds in business.
Proper Sentences
3/10/2009 at 10:17 Offensive or Inappropriate?

Just because you are over 17 stone in weight does not mean you are OBESE;muscle is heavier than fat hence rugby players (for example) who run around for upto 80 minutes in a demanding physical sport but quite a number of the top professional players (both codes) exceed this amount.

bluetony (04/10/2009 at 15:40)

An interesting development from a company that has no problem with letting drivers in their 70's behind the wheel, unless of course they'te overweight!!

slr (04/10/2009 at 20:36)

slimmer drivers keep fuel costs down .....pass on the savings stagecoach

John Findlow (05/10/2009 at 00:29)

Supreme Being, Manchester,
Bus drivers have been subject to random Alcohol and drug tests since 1990's. Long before the police force or any other industry.

J. Findlow. ex Stagecoach

A. Coates, manchester (05/10/2009 at 01:22)

Are bus drivers subject to alcohol and drugs testing before they trundle out the public service vehicle?
Supreme Being, Manchester.
3/10/2009 at 15:03

just what exactly, has drink and drug testing got to do with this article?

Twistinmymellons, Mancunia (05/10/2009 at 08:54)

ace...ban the chubsters...and from flights too.
Have to pay for "excess" baggage but I had to sit next to a 22 stone woman who was spilling out of her seat

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