Let’s protect our bus drivers

NO WORKER in any industry deserves to be threatened or have a weapon thrown in their face anywhere, let alone at their place of work

NO WORKER in any industry deserves to be threatened or have a weapon thrown in their face anywhere, let alone at their place of work.

The fact that bus driver safety had already been raised as an issue speaks volumes of the state of public transport, and to have it backed up by an unprovoked attack last week shows this is not something that can be ignored any longer.

In 2016 assaults against transit officers increased by 55 per cent. The issue of violence on our public transport system has been on going for several years.

Thursday’s incident shows it can escalate very quickly and suddenly.

But the solution might not be an easy one to come by — should there be a cage that protects drivers from the public, imprisoning them to the drivers seat?

Can there be a stronger force of transit officers distributed through the bus routes, following from other areas in need of assistance in Darwin?

Hopefully all parties will head the call by the Transport Workers Union to synonymously make the service safe and comfortable by all accounts.

TWU Secretary Ian Smith said it was important to cater for workers, operators, and the public on this matter, and frustration was brimming that there is still to be a resolution.

While he will this week pen an invitation to Buslink to open discussions on the issue, an emergency meeting may yet be called to find resolutions and recommendations the government can assist with. Mr Smith said no irrational decisions could be taken, and all lines of communication should be explored to ensure the right decision was made for punters and employees alike.