Transit police launch safety campaign for bus drivers

Dozens of bus operators showed up at the Transit office today to help kickoff a new safety campaign called Don’t Touch the Operator. 

This campaign by the Transit Police comes in the wake of two recent high-profile attacks on bus drivers in Vancouver.

A Surrey bus driver is still recovering from a broken nose suffered in an attack last week and earlier this month there was another alleged assault on a female driver, where three young women reportedly pulled the driver’s hair and knocked her to the ground.

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There were 134 assaults on metro Vancouver bus drivers last year, which is up from 117 a year earlier.

Posters and decals are part of the campaign along with a dedicated number (877-777) to text and report any threatening or violent behaviour on the bus.

Transit Police along with the Coast Mountain Bus Company and the drivers’ union are hoping people will use common sense and respect drivers.