Campaign to ban passengers standing on buses on motorways in Tenerife
A Tenerife-based union is leading a campaign to change national transport laws to ban passengers from standing on buses travelling along motorways and dual carriageways, a practice they say remains a dangerous “legal loophole” in Spain.
The Sindicalistas de Base union, representing workers at TITSA (Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife), has launched the initiative “No more standing at 100 kilometres per hour” to align Spanish regulations with European standards, where standing passengers are already prohibited on high-speed routes.
Although the sight of passengers standing on buses has become less common in the Canary Islands, the union argues that Article 48 of the national transport law still allows it under certain conditions, specifically when buses are equipped with handrails or standing zones. This, they warn, leaves passengers at risk in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
“It’s an outdated and unsafe regulation,” said representatives from the Güímar branch of the union. “In most EU countries, this is already banned for good reason.”
The group has already met with several political parties, including the PSOE, Nueva Canarias (NC), and Agrupación Socialista Gomera (ASG), as well as local and regional authorities such as the Cabildo de Tenerife. They also plan further discussions with the Partido Popular (PP) through Güímar’s mayor, Luisi Castro.
Their goal is to build consensus in the Canary Islands for a non-binding parliamentary proposal (proposición no de ley) that would reach the Spanish Congress, leading to an official amendment of Article 48.
While no major accidents have yet occurred in such circumstances, union members warn it’s only a matter of time if the rules remain unchanged. “We don’t want to wait until a tragedy happens,” they said.
Through social media campaigns and public surveys, the movement is gaining support from commuters and safety advocates who want Spain’s roads to match the safety standards of Germany, France, the UK, and Portugal.
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