Driver safety

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Roderick Smith
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Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by Roderick Smith »

August 19 2016 - Melbourne 'Age'.
Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus commuters in Wantirna South...
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/blood ... qx216.html

Roderick.
burrumbus
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by burrumbus »

Thanks for the post Roderick.
Fascinating the Age use photos of Sita buses to illustrate the piece,despite it being a Transdev bus some 40kms away.
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Heihachi_73
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by Heihachi_73 »

The beauty of the eastern suburbs.
dex
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by dex »

Happens a fair bit over our way, 484 has had it's fair share of punch ups on the bus, there is a home for old men in Greenvale, they generally travel to and from the pub and end up punching on in the bus, usually ends in a bloody mess or an ambulance called.
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V981
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by V981 »

Heihachi_73 wrote:The beauty of the eastern suburbs.
It's a bit unfair to tarnish the whole of the Eastern Suburbs. :lol:
The problem for the 901 route is that given it travels through Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Greensborough, Roxburgh Park and Broadmeadows, it is basically a "Contiki tour" of all of Melbourne's Bogan Troublespots.
The views expressed by me are mine and mine only. They do not neccesarily fall in line with the views of my friends, family, collegues or my employer.
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by Roderick Smith »

August 29 2016 - Melbourne 'Age'.
Bloody fight at Westfield Knox spills onto Frankston-bound bus.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a bloody fight broke out at a shopping centre in Melbourne's east and continued on a public bus.
The two men started the nasty punch-up at a bus stop at Westfield Knox on Burwood Highway at 16.40 on Fri.19.8.
The fight latest several minutes before the pair - covered in blood - boarded a Frankston-bound bus where they continued arguing.
The driver kicked them off at the intersection of Stud Road and High Road in Wantirna South.
Police have arrested a Glen Waverley man, 31, and a Rowville man, 20, who are expected to be charged on summons with assault related offences.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/blood ... r3a2v.html
Police are appealing for witnesses after two men started a bloody fight at a shopping centre in Melbourne's east before continuing their brawl on a bus.
They believe the fight broke out at a bus stop at Westfield Knox on Burwood Highway at 16.40 on Fri.19.8.
Covered in blood, the pair continued arguing on the Frankston-bound bus before they were kicked off at the intersection of Stud Road and High Road in Wantirna South.
Police have arrested Glen Waverley man, 31, and a Rowville man, 20, who are expected to be charged on summons with assault related offences.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a nasty fight that broke out at Knox shopping centre and continued right onto a public bus.
The two men were standing at a bus stop outside the shopping centre around 16.40 Fri.19..8.
The punch-on lasted several minutes, before the two - covered in blood - caught the Frankston-bound bus.
But once on board the two kept arguing, forcing the bus driver to pull up at the intersection of Stud Road and High Road in Wantirna South and order the men off.
Police have arrested two men in relation to the fight: a 31-year-old Glen Waverley man and a 20-year-old man from Rowville. Both are expected to be charged on summons with assault related offences.
Anyone who might have seen the fight is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbo ... r38el.html
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krustyklo
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by krustyklo »

The problem for the 901 route is that given it travels through Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Greensborough, Roxburgh Park and Broadmeadows
Hey, I resemble that comment! *

* Never beaten anyone up in my life past grade 6. Plus I like real coffee.
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BroadGauge
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by BroadGauge »

V981 wrote:It's a bit unfair to tarnish the whole of the Eastern Suburbs. :lol:
Why not? We haven't even started on the South East yet! :twisted:
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Heihachi_73
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by Heihachi_73 »

V981 wrote:
Heihachi_73 wrote:The beauty of the eastern suburbs.
It's a bit unfair to tarnish the whole of the Eastern Suburbs. :lol:
The problem for the 901 route is that given it travels through Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Greensborough, Roxburgh Park and Broadmeadows, it is basically a "Contiki tour" of all of Melbourne's Bogan Troublespots.
The real bogans (complete with mullets, flannos, Victoria Bitter cans, Kingswood utes, AC/DC tapes etc.) got up and left over a decade ago, they had enough of their descendants. We are now stuck with a subspecies of bogan... Hmm, sub-bogan, does that mean lower-than-bogan? :)
dex
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by dex »

V981 wrote:
Heihachi_73 wrote:The beauty of the eastern suburbs.
It's a bit unfair to tarnish the whole of the Eastern Suburbs. :lol:
The problem for the 901 route is that given it travels through Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Greensborough, Roxburgh Park and Broadmeadows, it is basically a "Contiki tour" of all of Melbourne's Bogan Troublespots.
If only it went through Melton!!
Fairly certain that a Contiki tour sees a lot less action.

Yeah..you read that right.
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Alstom 888M
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Re: Blood-covered fighting men terrify bus passengers

Post by Alstom 888M »

Heihachi_73 wrote:The real bogans (complete with mullets, flannos, Victoria Bitter cans, Kingswood utes, AC/DC tapes etc.) got up and left over a decade ago, they had enough of their descendants.
They all moved to Geelong. :lol:
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Roderick Smith
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Man held over brutal bus bashing.

Post by Roderick Smith »

Roderick.

Man held over brutal bus bashing.
Herald Sun August 31, 2016
DISTURBING footage of an apparently defenceless bus driver being allegedly bashed by an unruly passenger on an Altona-bound bus has surfaced.
After walking down the aisle of the bus to speak to an agitated commuter, the footage shows the passenger allegedly turning on the bus driver, and assaulting him.
The man, who was wearing a striped pink shirt and dark pants, allegedly grabbed the driver by his arm and threw punches, yelling at him and calling him a “smart-arse driver”.
Frightened onlookers called out “someone call the police” during the alleged incident.
The driver was left with a blood nose and bruises.
Police confirmed a 53-year-old Reservoir man was arrested and charged with recklessly cause injury and unlawful assault.
He will appear at the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on September 5.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-or ... 661928d0f6
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Buzztop
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Re: Man held over brutal bus bashing.

Post by Buzztop »

Driver admitted to me he lost his temper because the guy was swearing and being difficult. Driver was new at the time of assault, about 4 months ago. Not excusing the bloke for bashing driver, but situation could've been avoided.
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Driver safety

Post by Roderick Smith »

October 19 2016 -Melbourne 'Age'.
Melbourne bus drivers in uproar over violent assaults by passengers.
"Why are you looking at me with those beady eyes?"
With this paranoid outburst, the "extremely angry" man charged up from the back of the bus, leaned around the mesh dividing screen and punched bus driver Sandra* in the face.
Melbourne bus drivers want better security screens to protect them from violent passengers. Photo: Chris Hopkins.
It was about 11.15pm on October 12, a Wednesday night, when Sandra, 57, was assaulted while driving through Eltham on route 902.
According to her police statement, made two hours after the attack, the passenger kept hitting her while she "gunned it to Eltham train station" for help, and also mocked her by mimicking her cry to "please stop punching me". At Eltham station, he fled when she opened the doors and blasted the bus horn to attract the attention of PSOs.
The unprovoked assault - Sandra's injuries included a black eye, a golf ball-sized haematoma behind her ear, bruised ribs, arm, shoulder, eyeball, and self-inflicted tongue bite while being punched - is the most recent of 16 physical assaults on a Victorian bus driver this year.
A bus driver is assaulted more than once a month on average and the almost routine threat of violence has become a flashpoint for the industry, which even threatens to put some drivers into conflict with their employers as they demand big change.
In the past six years, the number of reported assaults on Victorian bus drivers has surged, Transport Safety Victoria figures show. There have been 102 reported physical attacks, and 33 verbal attacks since 2011.
But those are just the official figures. Industry analysts have no doubt the true number is much higher.
A survey, part of a 2015 paper on aggression towards bus drivers, found about one-third of drivers never reported incidents of abuse.
"Thus official data on aggressive incidents is likely to underestimate the extent of aggression," the Bus Association-commissioned report said.
A sample of the attacks the paper lists includes •a driver who had a knife held to his throat •one whose bus was hijacked at knife point •one who was knocked unconscious then kicked, and •another who was stabbed with a pin.
Drivers and the Transport Workers Union, which represents about 70 per cent of drivers in Victoria, has this month started agitating for major change.
"What is going to be done to protect us?"
This week, following Sandra's assault, health and safety representatives at her employer, Transdev, issued a notice proposing that all staff refuse to drive buses after 7.30pm if the bus lacks a full screen.
Sandra highlighted the "inefficiency of the current driver screens" in her incident report.
"I was trapped readily open to this frenzied, brutal attack, what is going to be done to protect drivers?" she wrote.
TWU has also clashed with Ventura, the state's biggest bus operator, over a notice that was pinned up inside bus depots early this month advising drivers to "decide for themselves whether to request customers touch on".
Ventura responded with a notice of its own, threatening to take disciplinary action, including deducting wages from any driver who followed the union's advice.
"There is no basis for this instruction to be issued to drivers and, if employees follow the direction such action would amount to unlawful industrial action as defined by the Fair Work Act", the notice, signed by Ventura managing director Andrew Cornwall, said.
Fare boxing
Drivers are required under bus operators' contractual obligations with the state to ask passengers to pay a fare.
The issue of drivers confronting fare evaders is at the heart of conflict and assaults, the union said.
"Our members are exposed to an ever-growing number of assaults and threatening behaviour from passengers," TWU senior organiser Mike McNess said. "Our members tell us that the catalyst for these attacks is passengers being requested to touch on their myki when boarding the bus."
The union is pressing for screens that provide full separation between bus drivers and the public, just as train and tram drivers have.
This week, industry body the Bus Association agreed. It will push the Andrews government to commit to investing in new buses that fully enclose the driver in a protective capsule. The union also wants full screens retrofitted to all existing buses.
This change would have major implications for revenue collection, because drivers are responsible for handling money and issuing mykis.
Chris Lowe, the Bus Association's chief executive, said the association stood with the TWU in doing "everything possible" to improve safety for bus drivers.
"The current legislative and contract framework around bus operator and bus driver obligations to collect a fare from passengers is to an extent inciting aggression in some passengers and resulting in assaults on drivers," Mr Lowe said.
It has also lobbied the state government, without success, for harsher penalties for those who assault drivers.
A Transdev spokesman said the company was on target to retrofit its entire Melbourne bus fleet with safety screens by December, and would consider any changes endorsed by PTV to improve driver safety.
Night-time bus drivers were not necessarily at greater risk of assault than day-time drivers, he said.
"Transdev takes a risk-based approach and is mindful of when and where incidents are likely to occur," the spokesman said. "Historically, after 7.30 pm is not necessarily when most assaults occur."
*Sandra is a pseudonym.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbo ... s5swq.html
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Roderick Smith
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Re: Driver safety

Post by Roderick Smith »

Bus drivers abused, assaulted and spat on by angry passengers.
Preston Leader November 15, 2016.
DAREBIN bus drivers are being spat on, verbally or physically assaulted, and are having coffee thrown at them by aggressive commuters.
The drivers, who did not want to be named, said the incidents had occurred within the past 12 months across the network, including at Northland shopping centre and along the Murray Rd bus routes.
The revelations come just days after a Brisbane bus driver was killed after being set on fire.
Police confirmed they had been called to one incident of assault against a bus driver at Northland in the past year.
“It affects the driver, makes them feel degraded and fearful for their safety,” one driver said.
“They don’t want to do the same (bus) run in case they run into the same person.”
He said some drivers were considering retiring after years of service because of safety concerns.
The union is calling on Public Transport Victoria to immediately roll out security screens and loop barriers, and introduce voiceover messaging reminding passengers to touch on.
TWU branch secretary John Berger said all drivers had a right to go to work and come home safe.
Figures from Transport Safety Victoria show there were 16 assaults on drivers across the state this year to September.
The Myki ticketing system is being blamed for the increase in assaults and threatening behaviour, as drivers are legally responsible for asking passengers to touch on, triggering abuse. Road rage and drugs were also blamed.
A survey of drivers by the Transport Workers Union last month found many incidents go unreported. It also found 90 per cent of drivers felt more unsafe behind the wheel now than when they started the job.
A spokesman for PTV said it was working with the government, bus operators, Victoria Police and other stakeholders to implement an approach to reducing these “totally unacceptable” incidents.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/nort ... 78e60e4cee 44 comments, very mixed, out of frustration: 'Immigration', 'soft justice', 'pso on every bus'.
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Roderick Smith
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Re: Driver safety

Post by Roderick Smith »

Female bus driver bashed in Eltham in October.
Herald Sun Fri.18.11.16.
DETECTIVES have released images of a man as they investigate an attack on a female driver on a bus in Eltham last month.
The unprovoked attack sparked outrage as figures showed there has been 16 physical assaults on bus drivers this year alone.
An image of a man police believe can assist with their inquiries into the assault of a female bus driver.
The 57-year-old Thomastown woman was driving along Main Rd, Eltham about 11.20pm on Wednesday October 12 when the male passenger boarded the bus outside Westfield Doncaster.
An image of a man police wish to speak to in relation to an assault.
Bus driver Lucy (last name not given) was beaten, repeatedly punched in the head and spat on during the assault.
Footage shows a man wearing dark tracksuit pants, a hoodie and jacket, with a bag slung over his left shoulder.
He appears to struggle to stand upright on the bus.
After brutally bashing Lucy the man appears to slowly and calmly get off the bus and walk away.
Investigators believe the same man was also involved in another assault outside the Westfield shopping centre just before boarding the bus; but this was not reported to police.
The man spots a woman in the street outside the shopping centre and runs towards her, pushes her over in the middle of the road and walks away.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-or ... 42aa0547ce

Police have released images of a man, in relation to an unprovoked attack on a bus driver in Eltham last month.
The bus driver, a 57-year-old Thomastown woman, was driving on Main Road in Eltham when she was repeatedly punched in the head by an unknown male passenger about 11.20pm on Wednesday 12 October.
It is believed the male passenger boarded the bus outside a Doncaster shopping centre on Doncaster Road, and travelled to Eltham.
The bus driver, who was unable to protect herself, stopped the bus and asked the man to get off.
The man refused and insisted the driver continue to Eltham Railway Station.
The driver continued to Eltham Railway Station where the man fled on foot.
The bus driver was treated at the scene but was not required to attend hospital.
Investigators believe the same man was also involved in another assault outside the shopping centre just prior to boarding the bus, however this has not been reported to police.
Detectives have released CCTV of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.
Detectives have released CCTV of a man they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. Photo: Supplied.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbo ... srbaq.html
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Security screens

Post by Roderick Smith »

Searching on 'security screens' and on 'driver safety' brought up nothing newer than 7.12.16 in any thread.

Roderick.

December 18 2016 Security screens to be fitted on every Victoria bus to protect drivers from assault .
Every passenger bus in Victoria will be fitted with a security screen to protect drivers from the risk of violent assault, following breakthrough talks between the drivers' union, their employers and Public Transport Victoria.
It is expected the full rollout of new security screens on about 2000 existing buses will take about three years and cost an estimated $10 million.
Victorian bus drivers wanting greater protections protest on the steps of State Parliament on November 15, 2016. Photo: Joe Armao .
All new buses that enter service will also have screens fitted.
Costs will be split evenly between bus operators and state authority PTV.
The push to mandate bus driver security screens has come from the Transport Workers Union and industry group the Bus Association following a disturbing increase in violent attacks.
There have been at least 16 documented physical attacks on bus drivers so far this year, ranging from being punched to being spat on.
Some drivers have reported being threatened with being set on fire in recent weeks, following the killing of Brisbane bus driver Manmeet Alisher in Brisbane in October, the union said.
John Berger, the TWU's Victorian branch secretary, said he felt relief for all bus drivers that authorities were acting to install screens, following a three-year union campaign.
"However, no time should be wasted to begin the installation of safety devices as violent assaults on drivers continue to be reported," Mr Berger said.
"I am also appalled that some passengers have in recent weeks even threatened to set Melbourne drivers alight in reference to the sickening murder of Brisbane bus driver Manmeet Alisher on October 28."
The number of reported assaults on Victorian bus drivers has surged in the past six years, Transport Safety Victoria figures show. There have been 102 reported physical attacks, and 33 verbal attacks between 2011 and September this year.
Drivers are contractually obliged to ask passengers to touch on if it is safe to do so, and bus drivers say passenger objections to being asked to pay a fare are the most common spark for violent and aggressive behaviour.
Chris Lowe, chief executive of Bus Association Victoria, said that during talks bus operators had initially offered to pay the full cost of fitting screens to the state's fleet of passenger buses, over the next six years.
But the agreement by PTV to join in funding the screens would halve the period of time needed to complete the rollout.
"It's a great outcome," Mr Lowe said.
"We're finally getting some traction and some empathy from government."
A spokesman for PTV said bus drivers played an important role in ensuring people paid their way on public transport, but any physical or verbal assault on a driver was "completely unacceptable".
"More than half of all metropolitan buses have already been fitted with security screens and we are looking at options to fast track retrofitting the remainder of the fleet," he said.
"PTV has also mandated that all new metropolitan buses must be fitted with the screens."
Related Content
Melbourne bus drivers want better security screens to protect them from violent passengers.
Melbourne bus drivers in uproar over spate of violent assaults .
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/secur ... tdmxg.html
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Heihachi_73
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Re: Security screens

Post by Heihachi_73 »

Apparently security doors cost $5000 each when they are fitted to a bus rather than someone's house. Or someone is pocketing $9 million, which is about right when it comes to Victoria and public transport blowouts. All for the older buses to be withdrawn within a few years - Northcoast, Custom 550/CB30/CB60 (first generation), early Volgren low-floors (CR221L/CR222L/CR224L) and "square" Designlines won't be around forever.
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Re: Security screens

Post by MCI9 »

cost of screen on lease minimal volgren low floors can be relocated on new buses low costs compared to the damage to our drivers or death, NOW the penalties Must be adjusted to fit crime
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