Organisations focus on safety after driver death

Trade union Unite has created a ‘road map’ intended to improve the safety of bus workers across Scotland. The safety campaign is

Keith Rollinson, the driver who died following an assault earlier this year

launched in the aftermath of Stagecoach driver Keith Rollinson dying after an assault in Elgin, Moray, while working.

Additionally, CPT Scotland is urging Scottish Government to continue to explore measures to discourage future incidents such as this and to consider where action could be taken against offenders.

Unite is urging the First Minister and the Scottish Government to work with the union and operators to implement a series of safety measures to discourage anti-social and violent behaviour on buses.

The ‘road map’ includes increasing the presence of police officers or community wardens on buses, CCTV coverage on buses and at stations, panic buttons and other enhanced safety features installed on buses including internal locking systems.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Thousands of bus drivers across Scotland are increasingly anxious and nervous about going to work.

“Unite has set out a road map which would significantly enhance safety and it is one that could be implemented immediately. We will do everything possible to ensure that proper measures are in place to protect bus workers.”

Unite has repeatedly called for legislation to be enacted which makes it a specific offence to assault, threaten or abuse transport workers while at work. Currently, the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 only makes it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder someone providing an emergency service. The union has mounting evidence which indicates that transport workers are particularly vulnerable to assault and robbery.

“While the vast majority of bus users travel responsibly, we welcome the publication of this route-map and have met with Unite to discuss their recommendations around driver safety in Scotland” – Paul White, Director, CPT Scotland

Paul White, Director, CPT Scotland, said: “Staff should be able to feel safe coming to work. Likewise, customers should feel safe travelling by any mode of public transport.

“While the vast majority of bus users travel responsibly, we welcome the publication of this route-map and have met with Unite to discuss their recommendations around driver safety in Scotland.

“Some of these recommendations are within the operators’ control, and are already happening across Scotland, but others sit with, for example, the Local Authority or Police Scotland.

“CPT Scotland also continues to urge Scottish Government to continue to explore measures to discourage future incidents and to consider where action could be taken against offenders, such as the suspension of their right to free travel.”