It is one of the scourges of the region, the attacks on TEC drivers never end. This May 3 again, a driver was attacked by a passenger with insults and spitting on line 82. Legitimately, many buses did not run this Saturday in La Louvière and Houdeng. A problem known to the minister who had indicated that he was taking the problem head on to contain it as quickly as possible. The problem ? The meetings with the unions will not take place before June, which will upset some…
Many local elected officials, commuters and bus drivers denounce the actions towards bus drivers. “This situation is intolerable and the reaction of regional authorities and TECs is not sufficient in the face of these misdeeds which have been recurring for almost 2 years. Awareness campaigns and the announcement of more police patrols are clearly insufficient to deal with this increase in aggressiveness.”, indicates François Desquesnes.
A problem on which the Center deputy, François Desquesnes (Les Engagés), has questioned the Minister of Mobility, Philippe Henry (Écolo) for 2 years, 7 times already. During the last exchange with the minister, he promised the establishment of a working group… which the unions have just learned will meet in mid-June.
”How can we understand such slowness?”, asks the MP. “Strong and urgent measures are needed to put an end to impunity for this unacceptable behavior. To protect drivers, we must draw inspiration from the measures put in place, particularly in the Paris region where each bus has anti-aggression equipment.”
This equipment includes three surveillance cameras in each bus, an anti-aggression Plexiglas window (removable) to protect the driver, a direct radio link with dispatching allowing the reporting of any incident, the placement of a secret pedal allowing the driver to report an assault discreetly and connected to the police zone center as well as follow-up for each assault.
Movement of discontent from the TEC following the attack on a bus driver: “No bus departed from La Louvière”
”Without serious and rapid measures, the safety of TEC buses, their drivers and passengers, is put at risk, which is unacceptable.”, denounces the Sonegian deputy. The Deputy of the Center will challenge, by parliamentary question tabled this Monday, the Walloon Minister of Mobility so that these measures which have proven their effectiveness in the Paris region are quickly implemented in our region, and on all the lines where incidents are reported. “Public transport must be a safe link: the safety of drivers and users is at stake. This must be a priority for the Walloon region and the TECs”, he concludes.
