Bus drivers facing ‘staggering’ levels of abuse, union warns

More than 84% of Scottish bus drivers have experienced increased levels of abuse at work over the last year, a new survey has revealed.

Unite the Union released the findings of a mass survey as part of efforts to improve safety in the aftermath of Elgin bus driver Keith Rollinson’s February death.

Mr Rollinson, 58, died of cardiac arrest following an assault at an Elgin bus station after he refused to let a teenager, who was allegedly “noticeably intoxicated”, on board.

The 15-year-old boy later pleaded guilty to culpable homicide

According to the data, 83% of drivers said they suffered verbal abuse at work, while 16% were subject to physical violence.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said 99% of respondents supported stronger legislative measures to protect drivers.

“Urgent measures must be taken to address the staggering level of abuse being suffered by bus drivers,” she said.

“The Scottish Government has to step up and step in to ensure our members feel safe at work. A do nothing response is not an option.”

Minimum safety measures put forward by the union would include increased police or community warden presence on buses, CCTV coverage on vehicles and at stations, panic buttons and other enhanced security features like internal locking systems.

Almost 80% of bus driver abuse was not reported to police, while 48% was not reported to an employer.

Of those who did tell their bosses, 69% revealed they were unhappy with their employer’s response to the situation.

Unite Scottish secretary Derek Thomson said the union was also calling on the Scottish Government to host a public transport summit with key stakeholders.

“This is a national public safety issue affecting drivers and passengers,” he said.

“We need legislation, without delay, which addresses this wave of anti-social behaviour and violence towards bus workers because as each day passes drivers are being put at risk.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We have the greatest sympathy for bus drivers who are at the sharp end of antisocial behaviour from a small minority of bus passengers.

“Everyone should be able to go to their work without fear of abuse. That’s why the cabinet secretary for Transport met Unite representatives last month to discuss the safety of bus drivers and confirmed that she is committed to ensuring a full range of options are available to support the police, local authorities and bus operators to tackle this issue.

“The vast majority of passengers travelling by bus behave appropriately, including people of all ages using their free bus entitlement to travel. None of this would be possible without bus drivers keeping communities connected.

“However, there is a minority of people, of all ages, who abuse their entitlement, including to commit offences, and which can result in serious harm to bus employees and passengers. That is simply not acceptable.

“Bus operators can already restrict access to their services in line with their own conditions of carriage and we are working with operators, unions and other stakeholders, to develop further sanctions and preventative measures.

“This includes development of a new behaviour code for passengers and a process for temporary suspension of concessionary travel cards.”