TransLink looking at shield barriers to protect drivers

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – TransLink is set to provide us with an update this morning on its latest plan to protect bus drivers from being assaulted.

There have been hundreds of attacks in the last few years alone and the transit authority has just released new stats about crime on the transit system.

There were 102 assaults on operators last year, up by one from 2015.

The shield barriers are expected to run from the ceiling to the floors, much like what you would see in New York City.

The barrier has been researched for three years.

Jamie feels it’s a little excessive. “I think it’s not necessary in this country. I think that people behave well here. According to my experience, I think they don’t really need a shield for protection.”

One driver says it might take away from the public interaction as well, but TransLink says the doors try to make up for that problem.

“One of the key things that we tried to deal with this particular design was to maintain that communication. By having that sliding portion we are allowing that eye to eye contact with the customer,” says Director of Safety Derek Stewart.

The Coast Mountain Bus Company has also been testing shield barriers in some of their vehicles since 2015.

The cost for the barriers would be around $5,000 each.

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