Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses

The transport agency has confirmed all Auckland buses will have driver protection screens installed by 2026.

NZTA will fund the project to retrofit full length driver screens for 80% of the fleet, just over 1000 buses.

The remaining buses will be decommissioned and new buses will already have perspex screens fitted.

It follows calls for more safety measures for bus drivers after an increase in physical assaults.

Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt said bus driver safety is a priority.

"It has taken a long time but at least we're here ... some of the drivers like it, some of them don't want to lose that interaction with passengers, however the situation now warrants having to do that."

Auckland Transport reported 33 physical assaults on drivers in the first half of this year, up from 21 in the same period last year.

Earlier this month, a driver was hospitalised being attacked in Saint Lukes.

Bus driver Martin Kaipo said the perspex screens will give him more peace of mind.

"We just want something in between us and an aggressive passenger so it's a deterrent and we do actually feel secure behind the screen. We get de-escalation training but this gives us that added protection as well," Kaipo said.

"In the end it's up to the driver and their attitude towards people and people's attitude towards all our drivers that get us through the day."

Ritchies chief executive Michele Kernahan said they already had 31 buses with safety screens and would rollout the remaining as they are custom fit to different buses.

"This is about our drivers ... and we really need to support them," she said.

The driver safety screen rollout is a joint project between Auckland Transport (AT), NZTA and bus operators with the Government matching funding from Auckland Council.

Mayor Wayne Brown said each would contribute $5 million.

He said he was "appalled" that bus drivers are feeling unsafe on the job and faced aggression from some passengers.

"It's sad that we have supermarket workers, bus drivers having to be protected and these are not overly high paid people but without them our whole system can't work."

AT chief executive Dean Kimpton said the agency is committed to driver safety and ensuring the city keeps moving.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the Government has allocated $15 million for improving safety for bus drivers, including screens and on-board live CCTV which is being trialled on 30 buses.

"Bus drivers do an important job in our communities and the government is committed to helping keep them safe as they go about their work," he said.

"These hardworking New Zealanders often work with little to separate them from their passengers. Safety screens will provide protection and ensure our service continue to run smoothly and safely."

rnz.co.nz