Eric Abetz hopes new bus screens will make drivers safe and cut anti-social behaviour

In recent months, Metro bus drivers have been subjected to assaults and robberies. Read why that could be about to change.

Metro bus driver Mark Spong tries out the new screens alongside Transport Minister Eric Abetz. Picture: Supplied

The bus drivers’ union is hopeful new $2.1m security screens on buses, promised two years ago, will help prevent skyrocketing assaults and robberies.

Byron Cubit, secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, said he hoped they would be installed quickly and efficiently and that new transit officers would be given power to detain offenders.

“We’ve had 20 assaults and robberies on drivers this year,” he said.

“The screens will go a long way to making drivers safer.”

Rail, Bus and Tram Union state secretary Byron Cubit with Labor MP Meg Brown at Metro's Springfield Depot on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Three weeks ago a Metro driver was hospitalised after being assaulted.

Transport Minister Eric Abetz said he had had a coffee with the injured driver and believed a screen could have helped protect him.

He said it had taken some time to consult with drivers and technicians and to get first-of-its-kind exemption from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator that they were safe and could be installed before national standards were finalised.

“With these sort of projects you always want them delivered the very next day, but we had to go through the testing of a number of prototypes to get it right,” Mr Abetz said.

“That was done in consultation with Metro, the supplier and most importantly the bus driver community to ensure that they were happy.

“In recent times we have had occasions where ugly elements within the community have thought that bus drivers were fair game.

“This anti-social behaviour has consequences not only for the drivers, which is terrible, and the travelling community, but the overall taxpayers who have now had to fork out an extra $2m to deal with this anti- social behaviour.”

The Bridgewater Express Metro bus at Elizabeth Street in Hobart on Tuesday 19th November 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

Metro chief operating officer, Darren Turner, said there had been extensive consultation on the new screens and “this type of solution mitigates that risk significantly”.

He said it provided “another layer of protection” for drivers.

“This is almost a watershed day in how we’re protecting our drivers, when they’re on the road,” Mr Turner said.

“Our drivers are the front line of Metro. They deserve to be protected, they deserve to have a safe working environment. Security screens is another layer of protection for us.”

The security screens will be installed in a staged rollout by local supplier HAV N A DIP Bus Repairs.

The aftermath of a rock attack against a Metro bus in Gagebrook showing a broken windscreen. Picture: Supplied

Director Scott Workman said he had come out of retirement to oversee the new screens and had expanded his workforce.

He said it was hoped to install one screen a day on Metro buses which include a fleet of 236.

“They are made of toughened glass design that can’t be shattered easily,” he said.

Mr Abetz said the screens were designed to take into account glare and blind spots.

Originally published as Eric Abetz hopes new bus screens will make drivers safe and cut anti-social behaviour