Bus drivers abused, assaulted and spat on by angry passengers

BUS drivers in Melbourne’s north are being spat on, verbally or physically assaulted, and having coffee thrown at them by aggressive passengers.

Bus drivers in Melbourne’s north are feeling under threat from aggressive passengers.

DAREBIN bus drivers are being spat on, verbally or physically assaulted, and are having coffee thrown at them by aggressive commuters.

The drivers, who did not want to be named, said the incidents had occurred within the past 12 months across the network, including at Northland shopping centre and along the Murray Rd bus routes.

The revelations come just days after a Brisbane bus driver was killed after being set on fire.

Police confirmed they had been called to one incident of assault against a bus driver at Northland in the past year.

“It affects the driver, makes them feel degraded and fearful for their safety,” one driver said.

“They don’t want to do the same (bus) run in case they run into the same person.”

He said some drivers were considering retiring after years of service because of safety concerns.

The union is calling on Public Transport Victoria to immediately roll out security screens and loop barriers, and introduce voiceover messaging reminding passengers to touch on.

TWU branch secretary John Berger said all drivers had a right to go to work and come home safe.

Figures from Transport Safety Victoria show there were 16 assaults on drivers across the state this year to September.

The Myki ticketing system is being blamed for the increase in assaults and threatening behaviour, as drivers are legally responsible for asking passengers to touch on, triggering abuse. Road rage and drugs were also blamed.

A survey of drivers by the Transport Workers Union last month found many incidents go unreported. It also found 90 per cent of drivers felt more unsafe behind the wheel now than when they started the job.

A spokesman for PTV said it was working with the government, bus operators, Victoria Police and other stakeholders to implement an approach to reducing these “totally unacceptable” incidents.