A Dublin Bus driver has said his job is becoming a ‘horror story’ on some routes as issues with anti-social behaviour are becoming ‘problematic’ once again.
According to Sean Yates, problems with behaviour on board have been raised to the union in recent weeks, and drivers have said they will simply not service the areas deemed dangerous if things don’t change.
Security concerns on the public transport service have been hitting the headlines over the last few weeks, however, the pressure is now on for action to be taken before drivers simply avoid servicing certain routes.
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As well as this, the need for more capacity to meet the demand of bus users in the capital is also causing issues for drivers, because they are left to deal with disgruntled passengers who cannot board due to capacity constraints.
Speaking to Newtalk’s Pat Kenny, Mr Yates described the job as “a bit of a horror story at the moment”.
He said: "The drivers are reporting that the capacity issues and the anti-social behaviour issues around key stops in the city centre is becoming really problematic.
"They are fearful that it's going to escalate, with a potential for another Wellington Quay".
Sean said drivers may decide to not service certain stops: "I know only last week at one of our union meetings the driver's reps from Phibsborough Depot had written to the company to say... that if it's not safe they're just not going to stop at the stops".
Speaking about the issues faced by capacity, Mr Yates said: "You have a bus coming around with a capacity for 90, and there could be 60 people standing at the stop.
"Then there's probably 30 or 40 already on the bus. The drivers are frustrated because obviously they just want to load and go.
"They've been venting their anger at the trade unions, and we obviously in turn have had to get on to Dublin Bus and say, 'Look we need capacity issues resolved here' - and also there's an element of security".
This comes just weeks after Dublin Bus decided to suspend services to west Tallaght amid an 'escalation of attacks' on drivers.
Throughout December, Dublin Bus drivers reported 35 incidents of violence, attacks, vandalism, and threats with knives, and in one incident, a female driver was “terrorised by a huge mob”.
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