Be Seen - Local Bus Passengers Urged to Shine Phone Screens at Bus Stop to Attract Drivers' Attention

• Turn on screen to be visible at stop
• Do not flash torch into Driver’s eyes
• Drivers will pay extra attention as mornings and evenings get darker

Local bus operator, Stagecoach East Midlands, has urged passengers to make themselves visible at bus stops – particularly as the mornings and evenings become darker – to make sure that Bus Drivers can see them.

As Catch the Bus Month comes to an end, Managing Director, Matt Cranwell, urged passengers to “give drivers a helping hand” by lighting up their phone screen at the stop so they can be seen from a distance. At this time of year, being visible is essential to ensure that boarding can take place as quickly and safely as possible, so, in addition to wearing bright clothing, Matt gave four points to remember:

-- Shine your screen - wake up your phone and show a bright screen toward the oncoming traffic.

-- Avoid torches - do not use a bright flashlight or torch feature, as it can blind or distract the driver.

-- Aim low - point the screen light downward toward the road rather than straight at the driver's eyes.

 -- Stand to be seen – stand back from the edge of the pavement and stick your arm out, holding your phone

He added: “In the busy and dynamic regions that we serve, it is often not straightforward for a Driver to see who is waiting at a stop for the bus, or just standing close to it, and, of course, they do not want to delay their other passengers by stopping unnecessarily.

“We train our Drivers to use their observation skills as best as possible but, particularly as the mornings and evenings become darker, they will pay even more attention to help people to board safely, but we would ask our loyal customers to also do what they can to be seen.”

-- To find out more about local bus routes and services, to buy before you board, and to track your local bus, download the Stagecoach Bus App from https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/stagecoachbusapp.

-ENDS-

Media enquiries: [email protected]

About Stagecoach
Founded in 1980, Stagecoach is the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, with a fleet of 8,300 vehicles connecting over 100 major towns and cities across England, Scotland, and Wales.

With 25,000 people in our team, we’re deeply rooted in the communities we serve. We know how important it is to stay connected to the people and places that matter – and we’re proud to play our part in helping make everyday journey simpler, greener and more reliable.

It’s all part of our promise: we’ve got you.

We work closely with partners to support greener, smarter, and more inclusive transport – helping reduce congestion, cut emissions and boost local economies. More than 15% of our 8,300-strong fleet is now electric, and that number continues to grow as we invest in cleaner, more sustainable travel.

As part of our sustainability strategy, we’ve committed to supporting local communities by donating up to 0.5% of profit before tax each year to charitable causes across the UK.