Training, Compliance and Enforcement

Our aim for BOD is that the data is provided to the public in a consistently high standard. We recognise that these new Regulations will require many operators, local authorities, regional transport partnerships, and other actors in the travel data space, to adapt to new processes, train staff, and potentially invest in new equipment or systems to meet the new requirements.

As such, Transport Scotland intend to work collaboratively with the industry to ensure that new Regulations can be complied with. We will support industry in understanding the new requirements, any new processes they introduce and any new roles and responsibilities.

We are aware of the existence of private data consultancy firms, working predominately in England (where there is already a legal basis for BOD), who can be engaged to undertake this work, or support bodies which do not have the in-house capacity to meet this work. Although it will be possible for a third-party to support data activities, this would not alter the statutory responsibilities of individual parties. The legal duty, at all times, will remain with the bus operator or body responsible for a franchise area, or the local authority with regard to bus stop information.

Provision of standardised data to a single source will enable monitoring of statistics, issues and quality of data to best benefit passengers with accurate, complete and timely information.

As our intention is to bring useful data into the public domain, we do not intend to lead with a restrictive enforcement regime, and we plan to engage and provide guidance to bodies which will now be subject to these duties, some for the first time. The same enforcement powers available to the Traffic Commissioners for England (who oversee the enforcement of BOD in England) apply to the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, but our approach will be to support and guide as far as possible, before raising the option of escalated action with other bodies.

“…Guidance, training and tools to support compliance will be necessary. Content and engagement should be tailored to the needs of Community Transport operators as part of an ongoing dialogue” CTA