‘Alarming’ rise in bus driver abuse
Calls for more safety precautions as committee to discuss issue
Tauranga bus drivers are being subjected to an “alarming” and rapidly escalating number of assaults and instances of threatening behaviour, prompting a call for a greater police and security presence.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council Public Transport Committee is expected to discuss the “alarming rise in incidents of anti-social and criminal behaviour on the bus network” in a meeting today.
The comments were made by regional council transport and urban planning manager James Llewellyn in a report to the council, highlighting the issue as a key risk.
In the report, he said incidents of threatening behaviour and assault on Tauranga buses were traditionally rare, with about one or two incidents reported by drivers each month.
“Since the lockdown period in March/april there has been an increase in this behaviour with almost 20 incidents reported by drivers in September and a further 10 in October. These incidents are occurring across the network, although around 30 per cent of incidents this year have occurred on or around Willow St.”
The issue highlighted the risk of stress and anxiety experienced by bus drivers, which could likely lead to staff shortages and industrial action if not resolved, he said.
Passengers were also less likely to want to travel by bus if they feared their safety, compromising efforts to get more people out of cars.
Llewellyn said working with NZ Bus and the police to ensure drivers were supported and a greater presence of police and security was needed.
First Union Bay of Plenty organiser Graham Mckean said the jump in assaults and abuse was a concern.
“The situation that’s happening in Tauranga at the moment is the worst in the country. None of the other cities have the level of incidents like we do right now.”
Mckean said he was expecting a call from an assaulted or abused driver every second or third day.
“The drivers themselves are quite fearful.”
Mckean said there was an incident as recently as last Friday where a Tauranga driver’s phone was stolen, thrown on the road and the driver was punched in the head.
“It has been horrendous. “Drivers are coming back saying ‘we want some sort of protection’.”