Jeff Bergosh Blog: Board of County Commissioners Installing Bus Driver Safety Enclosures on our ECAT Buses for Operator Safety

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I am one member of a five person board. The opinions I express on this forum are mine only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Escambia County Staff, Administrators, Employees, or anyone else associated with Escambia County Florida. I am interested in establishing this blog as a means of additional transparency to the public, outreach to the community, and information dissemination to all who choose to look. Feedback is welcome, but because public participation is equally encouraged, appropriate language and decorum is mandatory. Although this is not my campaign site for re-election--sometimes campaign related information will be discussed, therefore in an abundance of caution I add the following : Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Jeff Bergosh, Republican, for Escambia County Commissioner District 1

Monday, April 11, 2022

Board of County Commissioners Installing Bus Driver Safety Enclosures on our ECAT Buses for Operator Safety

Escambia County has begun the process of installation of Bus Driver safety compartments on ECAT buses. This one, pictured above, is among the first installed in our local fleet.

Bus Driver Safety has been an issue discussed for the last several years among the members of the Board of County Commissioners and drivers who have attended our meetings.

First, it was incidents of violence and abuse toward drivers that was concerning.

Then it was and has been COVID-19. (Physical barriers don't protect drivers from COVID-19)

Several drivers around the country and in other parts of Florida have been seriously injured and/or killed on the job by violent passengers.

Justin McGriff murdered Tampa Bus Driver
Thomas Dunn in 2019--plunging a large knife
into the neck of the defenseless driver

Drivers locally have not escaped abusive rider behavior and conduct.

Safety on the job is a paramount priority---among the drivers and the Board of County Commissioners.

So the Board approved the purchase and installation of driver safety compartments on our ECAT buses.

The first of these enclosures was recently installed.

According to one driver "...we now have bus operator compartment barriers to protect us from potential assaults. 👍"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: If these bus riders are so violent they can't be trusted to not attack the drivers maybe we shouldn't be ferrying them around on the taxpayer's dime.; April 13, 2022 at 5:27 PM