The Data Exists — So Why Isn’t It Being Used?


Over the past few weeks, I’ve been submitting Freedom of Information requests across a number of transport authorities, regulators and organisations as part of ongoing work to better understand bus safety governance in the UK.

What’s becoming clear is not just what is missing — but what already exists.

The data is there.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) records enforcement activity, fleet compliance, roadside checks and operator risk through systems such as OCRS. The Department for Transport publishes national road casualty statistics. Operators themselves hold detailed operational data.

And yet, when engaging with local transport authorities, a consistent picture is emerging:

• “We do not hold this information”
• “This is held by operators or regulators”
• “This is still under development”

At the same time, other authorities have indicated that information is being collected — but not published.

So we have a situation where:

Data is collected ✔
Data exists ✔
But it is not consistently shared, integrated or used ✔

That raises a fundamental question:

If the data already exists, why isn’t it being used to inform decision-making?

A fragmented system

Bus services operate within a system involving multiple actors:

- Operators
- Regulators (DVSA, Traffic Commissioners)
- Central government
- Local and combined authorities

Each holds part of the picture.

But no one appears to be consistently bringing it together.

This creates fragmentation — not just in responsibility, but in understanding.

Reform without full visibility

At the same time, the bus sector is undergoing significant reform:

- Franchising
- Zero emission transition
- New service models such as Demand Responsive Transport
- Vision-led transport planning

These are major structural changes.

Yet the evidence suggests that in many cases, the systems for:

- Safety oversight
- Data integration
- Performance monitoring

are still evolving — or not yet in place.

The risk

This is not about criticising reform.

It’s about asking whether we are building the full system required to support it.

Because without clear, consistent and transparent use of data:

- Risks may not be fully understood
- Trends may go unnoticed
- Lessons may not be learned

And ultimately:

Decisions may be made without a complete picture.

The opportunity

The positive here is that the foundations already exist.

The data is not the problem.

The opportunity is to:

- Bring together existing datasets
- Improve transparency
- Ensure safety and operational insight inform policy decisions
- Connect frontline experience with governance structures

Final thought

This is not about creating new systems from scratch.

It’s about making better use of what we already have.

Because if the data exists — but isn’t being used — then the question is no longer whether information is available.

It’s whether the system is set up to learn from it.

Lee Odams
Bus Driver | Branch Secretary (RMT Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire)
Secretary, National Industrial Organising Conference of Bus Workers
Advocating for transparency, safety and accountability in the UK bus industry

#BusSafety #PublicTransport #BusReform #TransportPolicy #Franchising #DVSA #DfT #RoadSafety #DataTransparency #Governance #BusDrivers #TransportUK #VisionZero #NetZeroTransport #PassengerSafety

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