We sat down with ROSCO Board Member Ruth Graham to hear about her recent work representing ROSCO, bringing driver safety into conversations with key transport groups and helping to raise the organisation’s profile across the bus and coach industry.

Ruth, a partner at law firm DWF joined the ROSCO Board after being approached to contribute her legal and transport expertise. Having worked with bus and coach operators since the early 1990s, she has supported organisations following incidents across the UK and Europe and understands the impact that collisions can have on drivers, passengers and businesses.

For Ruth, joining ROSCO was an opportunity to focus on prevention as well as response.

“Safety is paramount. It is important to support drivers, encourage them to drive safely, prevent accidents wherever possible and reward them for the work they do.”

Since joining the Board, Ruth has been learning more about ROSCO’s award scheme while contributing her experience to wider discussions around driver protection, training and passenger safety. She believes ROSCO has an important role to play in ensuring safe driving remains visible within the industry, not simply after an incident, but as part of everyday professional standards.

Representing ROSCO at Women in Bus and Coach

Ruth recently attended the West Midlands launch of Women in Bus and Coach, representing ROSCO and supporting the initiative’s work across the industry.

She was particularly struck by the presentations exploring female driver safety and women’s experiences when travelling by bus in the UK. The discussions highlighted that, while many safety concerns affect everyone working in or using public transport, women can face different forms of harassment, abuse and vulnerability.

For Ruth, creating space for these experiences to be heard is an important step towards improving safety for both employees and passengers.

“It was insightful, and I was pleased to be there representing ROSCO,” she said. “Women should have strong representation throughout the industry, and these conversations need to be encouraged.”

Taking driver safety to the CPT Claims and Insurance Group

Ruth has also introduced ROSCO’s work to the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s Claims and Insurance Group, which brings together bus and coach operators, insurers and brokers.

The group often considers trends, causes and the consequences of incidents. Ruth sees ROSCO as a natural addition to those discussions because its work begins earlier with prevention, professional development and recognition for drivers who maintain high standards.

Reducing collisions protects people first and foremost, but Ruth also highlighted the wider benefits for operators. A strong safety culture can reduce disruption, claims and associated insurance costs, while helping businesses manage risk more effectively.

There will be a further opportunity to share ROSCO’s work with the group at a future meeting, helping more organisations understand how recognising safe driving can support their wider safety objectives.

Why safe driving recognition matters

When asked where safe driving makes the greatest difference, Ruth’s answer was clear: accident prevention.

Today’s professional drivers must manage congestion, cyclists, e-scooters, pedestrians, changing weather, difficult road conditions and the responsibility of carrying passengers safely. Ruth believes ongoing training, appropriate technology and meaningful recognition can all help drivers navigate those challenges.

She has seen first-hand the pride drivers take in an accident-free record and believes ROSCO’s awards reinforce that professionalism.

“Drivers care about their passengers and want to get them safely from A to B. There will always be a role for ROSCO because one accident is one too many.”

Looking ahead, Ruth is excited about helping ROSCO reach more operators, recruit new members and bring driver safety into even more industry conversations.

Her ambition is simple: to ensure professional drivers feel supported, safe driving is properly recognised and accident prevention remains at the heart of the bus and coach sector.

A few things you might not know about Ruth…

Away from her legal work and ROSCO responsibilities, Ruth leads a very active life. She enjoys walking around Rossendale and regularly takes part in boot camps, spin classes and plays badminton.

She also has a more adventurous side. Ruth served as a mayoresses, supporting her mother during her year as mayor and even completed a parachute jump from 3,000 feet raising £1000 for local charities. More recently Ruth completed the Manchester 10k raising nearly £500 for DWF’s Charity Foundation.

Her philosophy is simple: work hard, stay positive and make the most of every opportunity, an outlook she now brings to her role with ROSCO.