‘Epidemic’: Bus drivers assaulted, spat on and abused more in 2021 despite massive drop in patronage

Queensland bus drivers have told of the terrifying threats, hijackings and assaults occurring during ‘the most stressful job of their lives’ as transport unions call for massive increases in protection and security features.

Driving Queensland buses has “never been more unsafe” according to transport unions, as damning new figures reveal and increase in abuse against drivers, with accusations Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has refused to take action to improve driver safety.

Horror stories of bricks hurled at drivers, passengers attempting to hijack vehicles, and youths ganging up on vulnerable passengers have prompted urgent calls for more funding and security for frontline public transport operators.

Brisbane City Council bus drivers were assaulted, abused, and spat on last year more than in previous years, despite patronage at historic lows throughout the pandemic.

Union officials say bus drivers are ‘like sitting ducks’ in poorly protected operator units that they claim embolden offenders to lash out at drivers simply for enforcing company policy.

Brisbane bus with a heavily damaged windscreen after an object was thrown towards the driver's side. Picture: Supplied

Data obtained exclusively by The Courier-Mail has revealed a spike in bus driver assault and abuse in Brisbane despite buses carrying fewer than 50% of passengers compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

More than 711 Brisbane City Council drivers were the victims of assault or abusive behaviour in 2021, an increase of 54 on 2019’s reported incidents.

There were 548 reports of mild abuse and 113 of extreme abuse in 2021, a jump from 482 and 94 respectively in 2019.

Sixteen BCC drivers were spat on last year, which is a slight decrease year-on-year.

There were 11 instances of physical assault, categorised as striking or pushing, and nine reports of objects thrown at drivers.

Survey data from Transport Workers Union members across Queensland has revealed the alarming conditions, but members have also claimed company policy and procedure could be making matters worse.

Almost every bus driver in Queensland surveyed said they’d been assaulted and intimidated, two-thirds had been targeted in road rage, and almost a fifth had been racially abused.

Questioned what they believed had contributed to the abuse, participants said company policy enabled repeat offenders and unrealistic schedules pressured them to drive unsafely.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Assistant State Secretary Tom Brown said while upgrades were being made to council buses, retrospective fits were inadequate and claimed it would take almost twenty years to replace the current fleet.

“Drivers are like sitting ducks with these half-shields and they can’t just wait two decades while they get belted,” Mr Brown said.

“The assaults continue because they can, it has never been more unsafe to be a bus driver,” he said.

Bus drivers and unions have been campaigning for additional safety features and security to end the violence towards vulnerable essential workers. Picture: supplied.

The Courier-Mail spoke with one southeast Queensland bus driver, who requested anonymity, who said companies dismiss safety features such as shields and driver-side doors as a luxury, and intimidation has led to a culture of fear and under-reporting.

“I took up driving as a nice way to ease into retirement but this has been the most stressful job of my life,” the driver said.

“Unfortunately, drivers do not feel supported by their superiors whatsoever, in fact, they feel that things like CCTV exist to discipline them not protect them.”

The driver shared their traumatic experience of having a passenger pull a knife on them after missing a stop.

“I was completely frozen after the attack and I couldn’t believe how it escalated over an extra few minutes walk.”

Labor Opposition leader, Cr Jared Cassidy says Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has refused to take action to improve driver safety despite repeated calls from the Opposition.

“These aren’t just statistics, these are people being abused and assaulted daily at work,” Cr Cassidy said.

“Labor has been calling for full driver protection barriers and more security on buses and at key interchanges, but those calls have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.

“It comes down to priorities. Adrian Schrinner clearly values advertising himself more than the wellbeing of Council bus drivers ... Brisbane workers deserve better.

Brisbane City Council acting Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Cr Angela Owen said a number of safety measures have been implemented, including CCTV and emergency buttons, anti-shatter windows and a safety barrier in every bus.

“One assault is one too many, which is why council continue to invest in ensuring our drivers can perform their daily duties in a safe environment,” Ms Owen said.

“The vast majority of Brisbane residents treat bus drivers with respect and courtesy, and we value the vital role our drivers play in keeping Brisbane moving,” she said.

BCC currently has 25 NightLink bus guards, five interchange guards, and seven rapid response vehicles.

Bus driver Manmeet Alisher was killed in 2016 when he was doused in flammable liquid and set on fire while on board his bus in Moorooka, Brisbane.

The RTBU will make submissions next month at an Inquest into the 2016 petrol-bomb killing of Brisbane bus driver, Manmeet Alisher Sharma.

Originally published as ‘Epidemic’: Bus drivers assaulted, spat on and abused more in 2021 despite massive drop in patronage