A new survey suggests that public transport timetable frustration has led to a high level of physical attacks on drivers.

An industry study covering about 300 bus drivers in New South Wales found that 78 per cent had been abused by passengers because of timetable frustrations, with 33 per cent reporting having been spat on and 32 per cent assaulted.

But the NSW branch of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) wants to shift the blame off drivers and on to the NSW Government, and the departments that set the timetables.

The TWU has launched its new anti-assault campaign, Don't Blame the Bus Driver, to try to direct some of the public anger toward the State Government's Transport Information hotline.

“Abuse from passengers when the bus runs late is a common experience for drivers, even though the timetables, services and traffic conditions are completely out of their hands,” Transport Workers' Union NSW Assistant Secretary Richard Olsen said.

“Recently, we've seen drivers seriously bashed... it's only been a couple of years since a driver was attacked with a machete in Whalan. He was just doing his job.

“Competitive tendering, introduced into the NSW bus industry in 2012, is at the heart of the problem,” he said.

“Our Bus drivers provide an essential community service and they should be able to go about their jobs safely.

“The state government needs to step in and facilitate meaningful negotiations between drivers, operators and Transport for New South Wales to find a solution and address these serious and ongoing problems,” Mr Olsen said.

“Take it up with the people who set these impossible timetables, the state government and the private operators,” urged bus driver Barry Hupton.

“These companies tendered for the contracts knowing full well that they could not carry out the work safely, and the Baird Government is turning a blind eye to save money.”

The TWU’s survey found;

  • 32% of drivers have been assaulted
  • 33% of drivers have had a passenger assaulted on their bus
  • 78% of drivers have been abused by passengers because of unrealistic timetables
  • 33% have been spat on
  • 31% have been racially abused