Should plexiglass barriers be installed on TransLink buses?

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Is it time to install plexiglass barriers in buses to protect our drivers? The head of the bus drivers union says that question will be asked later this year.

This comes as three young women are accused of attacking one of its members in Vancouver earlier this week, almost dragging her off the bus by her hair. The trio is under arrest, but the union fears it won’t be the last time something like this happens.

Nathan Woods says a survey of drivers will conducted about the use of barriers. Personally, he’s not so sure about the extra security feature, which is standard on buses in other major cities.

“We have a relationship with our passengers and if you have a barrier putting a block to that, that’s not something that we typically want to do. We enjoy our job; we enjoy driving people to and from [places],” he explains.

Woods says once a barrier is installed, it’s there 24/7. “There is no leaving it open if you’re in a quieter area. But really… there is no quiet area when it comes to transit assaults.”

He believes most of these attacks are fuelled by drugs and alcohol.

“We expect that we’re going to be taking people home that have been under the influence of those substances. It’s a breakdown of respect for the transit operators. That’s really what it amounts to.”

The union says in 2013, 134 assaults against bus drivers were investigated. There have already been 51 reported attacks so far this year, something Woods calls intolerable.

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