It’s Not Nice to Hit People–Particularly Bus Drivers
Metro is installing shields on some of its buses to protect drivers, reports Brittany Morehouse from News 9. And given these stats from Metro, the news comes as no surprise:
According to a Feb. 14 press release, the number of assaults on drivers rose from 36 in 2002 to 84 in 2007. The majority–56–were in D.C., 21 were in Maryland and seven occurred in Virginia. Drivers have been spit on, attacked with bricks, sticks, poles, guns and knives. Riders have even attempted to undress an operator.
"Five public transit buses will have plastic protective shields installed around the driver's seat area. The new vehicles will be tested over the next six months to see if they help deter assaults," according to the News 9 story.
Update: Okay, so I just realized Erik Wemple previously reported much of this news. For another dose of why protection is necessary, check out his post.
1:42 pm
The shields are good first start, perhaps. I would suggest arming metrobus drivers with flame-throwers. Or caliber-50 machine guns. Or at least the Pregnant Termite Queen God of all tazers.
.........and THAT's just to "inspire" people to move to the BACK of the bus when it's crowded.
...i'm just sayin'.
3:21 pm
It'd be nice if drivers also didn't hit people with the bus.
10:34 am
bus drivers are a menace
they drive through the city like bullies
as a cyclist I have considered pulling out my buck thirty five and getting onto the 42 at its next stop so that I can try to understand why the driver felt that had a right to run me down
protect the bus driver?
protect the pedestrian
protect the cyclist
even protect the defensive car driver
here is an archive from my blog
somewhere in that thread is a link to a video of two pedestrians in the crosswalk with the walk signal to their favor getting run down
and the driver neither slows nor stops
but I think he got to the next red light on time
http://gwadzilla.blogspot.com/2007_12_09_gwadzilla_archive.html