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Sweden’s bus driver shortage puts breaks on society

Good bus connections are crucial for many commuters. But no buses can run without bus drivers. Now, Sweden’s transport sector organisation warns a lack of drivers could have serious socio-economic consequences.
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Facts

According to the Swedish Transport Agency, 134,858 people had a valid D-class driver’s licence in July this year. That is the class needed to drive a bus carrying more than eight passengers. The agency does not have figures for how many of these are currently working in public transport.

Bus driving licenses

In addition to having a D-class driver’s licence, you must also have a valid Certificate of Professional Competence.

Corona hit bus drivers hard

A fresh study from the University of Gothenburg shows that bus drivers “were twice as likely to need hospital treatment for serious cases of Covid-19 in the later stages of the pandemic”.

The fragmented day of a bus driver

Bus driver

Bus drivers come and go. One who has remained in the job is Stefan Andreasson. He got his bus driver’s license 35 years ago and has been driving public transport buses for the same number of years. 

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