Union calls for removal of free bus passes for under 22s if driver abuse continues

A union is calling for sanctions on the free bus travel scheme amid reports of increasing anti-social behaviour among young passengers.

It comes after more than 84% of Scottish bus drivers said they have experienced increased levels of abuse while working over the last year.

Unite the union released the findings of a mass survey as part of efforts to improve safety in the aftermath of driver Keith Rollinson’s death in February, who died of cardiac arrest following an assault involving a 15-year-old at an Elgin bus station.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) confirmed it is working with Transport Scotland and Unite to continue improving driver safety and has called for the suspension or removal of the right to free travel if incidents of driver abuse are linked to those aged under 22.

Introduced in 2022, the free bus travel scheme across Scotland allows anyone aged five to 21 to apply, and more than 900,000 young people are thought to be eligible for it.

Scotland

Bus drivers facing ‘staggering’ levels of abuse, union warns

Survey finds more than 84% of Scottish bus drivers have experienced additional levels of abuse at work over the last year.

CPT’s statement read: “CPT is working with Transport Scotland, operator members, Unite, and other stakeholders to ensure that a full and effective range of preventative measures and sanctions are in place to tackle antisocial behaviour on the bus network and bring about positive changes for the benefit of staff and passengers.

“We hope the upcoming findings and recommendations of the Scottish Government’s Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour reflects the concerns raised, and solutions proposed by the bus sector.

“CPT bus operator members always have the safety of staff and customers as their top priority, with safety measures and deterrents deployed on buses operating throughout Scotland.

“Where criminal acts have taken place and are reported, these are also reported to the police to action. Where incidents are linked to the scheme offering free bus travel for under 22s, we would like to see sanctions such as the suspension or removal of the right to free travel.

“As Unite highlight, antisocial behaviour incidents have a marked impact on bus drivers and other frontline staff. Additionally, communities may lose vital local services that cannot be run due to operators taking action to protect staff. Vulnerable passengers may become isolated if they feel unsafe travelling on public transport.”

Unite put forward a list of minimum safety measures in an effort to create a safer environment for drivers, including increased police or community warden presence on buses, CCTV coverage on vehicles and at stations, panic buttons and other enhanced security features like internal locking systems.

Scottish secretary Derek Thomson said the union was also calling on the Scottish Government to host a public transport summit with key stakeholders.

“This is a national public safety issue affecting drivers and passengers,” he said.

“We need legislation, without delay, which addresses this wave of anti-social behaviour and violence towards bus workers because as each day passes drivers are being put at risk.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We have the greatest sympathy for bus drivers who are at the sharp end of antisocial behaviour from a small minority of bus passengers. Everyone should be able to go to their work without fear of abuse.

“That’s why the cabinet secretary for transport met Unite representatives last month to discuss the safety of bus drivers and confirmed that she is committed to ensuring a full range of options are available to support the police, local authorities and bus operators to tackle this issue.

“The vast majority of passengers travelling by bus behave appropriately, including people of all ages using their free bus entitlement to travel. None of this would be possible without bus drivers keeping communities connected.

“However, there is a minority of people, of all ages, who abuse their entitlement, including to commit offences, and which can result in serious harm to bus employees and passengers. That is simply not acceptable.

“Bus operators can already restrict access to their services in line with their own conditions of carriage and we are working with operators, unions and other stakeholders, to develop further sanctions and preventative measures.

“This includes development of a new behaviour code for passengers and a process for temporary suspension of concessionary travel cards.”