WE’VE all been there, stood patiently behind the person in front as they fumble to try and find the correct change for the bus.

Equally, how many of us drivers have cursed under our breath while getting stuck behind a bus, waiting for it to pull away from the bus stop?

Now the Government claims plans to roll out so-called ‘contactless’ payments on buses in the North-East could help tackle congestion in this vein.

The North-East is helping to fly the flag for contactless after Arriva said all of its 491 buses operating in the region would offer the new technology by April this year.

It has chosen the North-East as the first region outside of London to benefit from contactless payments.

Other major bus operators are expected to follow the move, having already made similar pledges.

Andrew Jones, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, said: “This new technology will give passengers the freedom and convenience to go cash-free, which will reduce boarding times and speed up journeys as a result - helping thousands of passengers, as well as tackling congestion.”

Passengers will be able to use Arriva’s own smartcard, Arriva Connect, to pay, or local authority smartcards which operate across local authority boundaries. Unlike in London, they will also be able to continue to use cash if they prefer.

The launch of the roll-out took place at Middlesbrough bus station and was welcomed by the likes of Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd and the town’s Labour MP, Andy McDonald.

Mr Budd said: “Good bus services are a vital part of our transport infrastructure and this new technology will help make travelling by bus much more straightforward.”

Nick Knox, area managing director for Arriva North East, said: “This is great news for the North-East as we give customers more choice in how they pay for their journey.

“The new contactless technology, along with our mobile phone app, demonstrates our commitment to improving the passenger experience and developing our bus fleet.”