South Australians are feeling less safe on public transport according to new Productivity Commission report

SOUTH Australians are feeling less safe on public transport than in the past five years.

SOUTH Australians are feeling less safe on public transport than in the past five years.

New data released by the Productivity Commission shows that 22.3 per cent of public transport users feel safe on train, tram and buses at night, a reduction of 2.7 per cent from the previous year.

About 13.6 per cent of people surveyed reported feeling unsafe on public transport at night in 2016-17, slightly risen from 13.2 per cent in 2012-13.

During the light of day, about 52.6 per cent of people feel safe using public transport, down from 56.4 per cent reported in 2012-13.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said more transit police have been recruited to a team of about 100 full-time equivalent officers, more security guards and more inspectors across the train, tram and bus networks.

“While these figures show a slight decrease from the previous year, the State Government continues to introduce new measures to ensure passengers feel as safe as possible on our public transport network,” he said.

“In the last 6 months, additional mobile security patrols across the network have been added, and a new security hub to monitor public transport locations and service has been established.”

Security guards are currently roving on buses and at interchanges on top of night patrols on trains and trams.

“In addition every Adelaide Metro bus, train and tram is equipped with CCTV cameras. And we continue to roll out increased CCTV surveillance, better lighting and emergency contact points at train stations and tram stops,” Mr Mullighan said.

The Advertiser revealed in December only 8.7 per cent of Adelaideans use public transport to commute despite being the most convenient in the nation where Adelaide homes are within 400m of a frequently service public transport stop.

Census figures released in October showed 80 per cent of Adelaide workers drive to work in 2016, with only about 53,000 took public transport.