Bus drivers under attack

Unite drivers suspended bus services in a district of West Belfast last weekend, after a double-decker was petrol bombed.

Luckily no one was hurt during the attack, which took place in the Lagmore View area of the city, however the side of the bus was scorched.

The incident came after a number of violent acts against buses in the area during recent weeks.

Unite chair for Metro drivers, Michael Dornan, said the attackers first ignited the side of the bus with a petrol bomb before throwing a brick through the window.

If the brick had smashed the window first and the bomb had landed inside the vehicle, Dornan said, “we could have been talking about people being killed.”

“From our review of the CCTV capture of this incident, it appears the attack was premeditated and we believe may have targeted the driver concerned. All relevant information has been passed on to the relevant authorities for investigation,” Dornan said.

“Sadly, attacks on buses are an all too common occurrence in Northern Ireland but this attack is particularly sinister. The attack put at risk the life of the driver and passengers on board. They were lucky on this occasion but such a mindless act could have caused a major accident affecting other road vehicles or the wider community.”

Although the severity of the attack was unusual, bus drivers throughout the UK regularly regularly face verbal and physical assaults.

Weapons

In March it was revealed that attacks on bus drivers in Edinburgh nearly doubled in 2015. On 28 occasions drivers were assaulted with weapons, spat at and verbally abused, compared to just 15 similar incidents in 2014.

Four bus drivers a day in London were attacked in the three years leading to 2014, according to Transport for London figures, which showed that 38 per cent of the 4,967 incidents recorded involved physical assaults or the brandishing of weapons.

More recently, a shocking attack by two men on a Manchester bus driver was caught on camera at the end of June. Despite being left bruised and bloodied, the driver refused to abandon his round and ensured his passengers got to their destinations.

Unite national officer for passenger transport Bobby Morton said little recognition was given to the challenging and frequently hazardous conditions bus drivers work under.

“While bus drivers, who I describe as professional drivers, cashiers and psychologists, in dealing with the general public are responsible for the health and safety of up to 80 passengers per trip, precious little thought is given to their wellbeing,” Morton said.

“The introduction of safety shields in the cab has helped to reduce the number of personal attacks on bus drivers, however they afford no protection in incidences such as the Belfast petrol bomb attack.”

Morton added, “No expense should be spared by the bus operators to protect these very valuable public servants.”