- A bus driver for the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe was attacked in November.
- He defended himself with pepper spray against the attacker.
- The driver accuses the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe of a lack of care.
- The BVB emphasize that safety is a top priority, but do not equip drivers with pepper spray.
A bus driver with the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe was attacked in November while taking a bathroom break around 4 a.m., sparking a debate over employee safety and self-defense measures. The incident underscores the challenges public transportation workers face and the difficult balance between providing security and allowing employees to protect themselves.
According to reports, a young man who had previously caught the driver’s attention approached him and asked a question the driver didn’t understand. “Then he insulted me with ‘You four-eyes, I’ll smash your face,’” the bus driver said. The driver opened the bus door, telling the man to depart or he would call the police.
Self-Defense Measures
The man allegedly moved threateningly toward the driver, prompting him to deploy pepper spray in self-defense. When the man shielded his face with his jacket, the driver threw his cocoa at him and sprayed again. Another passenger intervened to support the driver.
While waiting for police to arrive, the driver and the attacker reportedly engaged in a heated argument, but the situation did not escalate further.
The driver believes the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe failed to adequately provide for his safety. “There should have been security on this trip, then this incident would never have happened. But instead, I was threatened with death,” he stated. He subsequently went to the hospital for a hand injury and filed a police report.
Security on Night Routes?
The Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe stated that the safety of its employees is a top priority. They deploy security personnel on Friday and Saturday nights to proactively de-escalate situations. But, with only five security staff on duty, none were present during the driver’s route.
“Our goal is to generate the highest possible presence by having security personnel switch and change routes,” said Sarah Meyer, a spokesperson for the BVB. The vehicles are equipped with cameras, and police are contacted in threatening situations. “We train our employees in this regard. Our employees are not equipped with pepper spray,” Meyer added.
The driver felt these measures were insufficient and carried his own pepper spray as a result. “If the BVB doesn’t protect me, I have to do it myself,” he said, calling for increased security measures.
“They Want to Forbid Me”
The driver was on sick leave for six weeks, citing the way the BVB handled the situation following the attack. “Instead of having my back, HR wanted to examine legal measures. I have no idea why. Maybe they want to forbid me from protecting myself with pepper spray,” the driver said. “This pressure is breaking me mentally.”
The driver has since returned to work on a 50% schedule and is again operating night routes, though he reports feeling some anxiety following the incident.
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