Adelaide buses should go cashless, union says

Monday, 1 Feb 2016 11:01:15

The Transport Workers Union says screens like those used interstate may be another option to protect drivers. (ABC South West: Anthony Pancia)

Cashless buses should be introduced in Adelaide to reduce the number of assaults on drivers, the Transport Workers Union says.

Key points:

Police arrested a 17-year-old boy on Friday after he allegedly punched a bus driver in the face on King William Road.

The union's state secretary, Ray Wyatt, said removing on-board payments would reduce the number of assaults on drivers, as many are fare-related.

"It's 2016, technologies what with smart phones and all of [those] kind of things, you know, there are solutions out there," Mr Wyatt said.

"We need to explore them to make the buses safer not only for our bus drivers but for the travelling public also."

Mr Wyatt said he believed buses in the eastern states had already become cashless.

He said a cashless system would involve pre-purchasing tickets, or using metro cards.

Mr Wyatt said he thought the number of assaults against bus drivers was rising.

"Through social problems, alcohol-fuelled, drug-fuelled, people are actually put into a dangerous situation," he said.

"It is frustrating for our members. It is frustrating for us that here we are still, in 2016, and our members are being assaulted.

"Their job is driving our metropolitan buses and delivering people safely to their destinations.

"For a person to be assaulted in their workplace for just doing their job, it's outrageous."

Mr Wyatt said another measure being considered is a screen around drivers.

"It's a protective measure for our drivers, it's not the end solution," Mr Wyatt said.

"There's a whole heap of things that we need to do to make it better, but we're definitely putting that on the table to explore as well."

Mr Wyatt said the union would continue to discuss ways to protect drivers with the Government.

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