According to the Transport Workers Union, the attack on a bus driver in Logan City Monday morning was a despicable act, but not surprising considering 96.5% of Queensland bus drivers are abused when working.
Peter Biagini, the Queensland branch secretary of Transport Workers Union of Australia, said this is unfair to bus drivers.
“This is another senseless attack against a bus driver who is performing a vital public service,” he said.
“Once again drivers are in the firing line.
“Bus drivers have had enough. They work day in and day out to ensure that Queenslanders can get to where they need to go, and this is how they are treated.
“I hope that this coward is caught, charged, and jailed for this abhorrent attack.”
A 2015 statewide survey of Queensland bus drivers revealed that:
- 96.5% of drivers have been abused
- 62.4% report that they get abused regularly
- 89.4% report being intimidated or threatened
- 81.2% have been threatened with physical harm, 54.1% reporting this happens regularly
- 71.8% have had objects thrown at their bus such as rocks, bottles, metal poles
- 74.1% experienced verbal abuse
- 68.2% were the target of road rage
- 17.6% experienced racial abuse
- 27% have been spat on
- 21.2% or one fifth have been physically attacked at the wheel (assaulted)
- 36.5% reported passengers assaulting other passengers on their bus
- 85.9% reported vandalism
- 95.3% reported carrying intoxicated passengers
- 58.8% say that the procedures in place are not adequate to ensuring safety in dealing with repeat offenders
