U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) recently introduced a bill that would enhance the safety of the nation’s bus drivers, following reports of violence against bus drivers by unruly passengers.
It is a companion bill to the Bus Operator and Pedestrian Protection Act introduced in June by Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA).
“Every day we hear major news stories of bus drivers being beaten, having items thrown at them, spitted upon, and verbally abused. LA Metro, for instance, which operates in my district experiences approximately 130 assaults on bus drivers per year,” Napolitano said. “This is an unthinkable experience for drivers, and it also has major safety impacts on passengers, motorists, and pedestrians, as these assaults often occur while the bus is moving.”
Under the bills, transit agencies would be required to develop Bus Operations Safety Risk Reduction Programs. These programs would include de-escalation training for bus drivers, the installation of driver-assisted technology to reduce accidents and barriers to prevent operator assaults, and the modification of bus specifications or retrofits to minimize visibility impairments.
Both bills are supported by the Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation Division (SMART TD) leaders.
“There is no higher priority than operator safety. On a daily basis, we see reports of drivers getting assaulted and having their lives irreversibly changed because they were behind the controls just doing their jobs,” Calvin Studivant, SMART TD Bus Department Vice President said. “This critical legislation will significantly improve bus driver safety through risk reduction programs and other safety requirements.”