Radio link to curb bus attacks
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• Tyneside PTE is equipping buses in the Sunderland and South Shields area with two-way radios in an attempt to curb attacks on bus crews.
The move follows a "curfew" operated by Sunderland after a bus conductor was assaulted. Services were withdrawn after 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays for two weeks.
PTE director of operations, Mr J. Hurst, told CM: "The radio system works very well in the Newcastle and Gateshead areas. As we inherited Sunderland, we thought we should bring them in line with our other buses.
"The radios will enable them to report break-downs, traffic jams and any trouble they might have with vandals."
About 65 per cent of Sunderland's buses are o-m-o. Do they suffer more attacks than bus crews?
Mr Hurst: "No, we've found that the crews are assaulted more than the lone driver.
"I suppose it's because people think that the conductor is in charge and let him handle any trouble. Whereas on the driver-only buses there is more relationship between the driver and passengers."
When a 41-year-old labourer was sent to jail for six months at Sunderland for attacking a bus conductor, recently, the chairman of the magistrates, Mr A. G. McLellan, said he sympathized with busmen who took action to prevent attacks.
The defendant, who claimed it was a case of mistaken identity, was alleged to have assaulted the conductor when he told him he was not entitled to any change in the money offered for a fare. Mr McLennan said that the magistrates sympathized with drivers and conductors who had to put up with this kind of conduct