South Australia’s Minister for Transport, Tom Koutsantonis has spearheaded the push to install new protective screens in buses across the state to keep bus drivers safe from violence.
According to The Advertiser, stainless-steel and polycarbonate screens will be installed on 940 Adelaide Metro buses over four years to protect drivers from violent passengers. They are designed to not break when pulled.
Mr Koutsantonis said this new tech was a “long time coming” given the “worrying increase in assaults on our drivers in recent times.” 95 assaults on bus drivers were reported in the past 12 months in SA, up from 76 the previous year.
“People who assault bus drivers are scumbags and are committing aggravated offence that can see them jailed,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“These security upgrades will provide a safer working environment for hardworking bus drivers, protecting them from violent and anti-social behaviour without compromising their ability to do their job.”
Bus services will continue to run as usual during the rollout with high-risk areas set to receive the screens first, Mr Koutsantonis said.
Source: The Advertiser
