From frustration to flashpoint: Violence and incivility against urban bus drivers

Although some Australian studies have examined crime prevention in the transport sector, assaults on taxi drivers, occupational stress for bus drivers and issues of workplace assaults, research specifically involving violence against Australian bus drivers is non-existent. This paper presents results from stage one of a year-long study indicating that bus drivers face incidents of violence and incivility on a regular basis. Aggression against drivers is correlated with a suite of factors inherent to this occupational group and the settings in which they work. These factors include their isolation, low levels of guardianship, overcrowding, late-running, and friction around fare and ticketing issues. These matters create flashpoints on buses and can provide the kindling by which lower levels of conflict escalate into proscribed criminal behaviours. This empirical research is informed by routine activity theory and adopts a situational crime prevention approach.