Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- In Dilbeek, a bus driver received some serious blows from a traveller on Thursday. The victim’s colleagues then stopped work for a while, until De Lijn announced additional safety measures. “In the Dilbeek region we have a few problem lines that continuously call in Brussels via Anderlecht.”
In the Dilbeek borough of Schepdaal, a bus passenger lashed out at the driver yesterday, on a ride between Brussels and Ninove. While driving, the passenger handed out a punch because the driver had not stopped at a stop. “The perpetrator had not requested a stop and stopping between two stops is not allowed. While driving, that person gave a first punch in the face of the driver, after which the bus ended up on the verge,” says a BRUZZ reporter. “When the bus came to a stop, that person dealt a few more punches in the face, after which he started walking.”
Surveillance footage identified a suspect, an 18-year-old man from Dilbeek. He has yet to be interrogated, confirms the spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office Halle-Vilvoorde Carol Vercarre. The bus driver was taken to hospital by ambulance and has been unable to work for at least four days. “It will, I fear, be even longer. I met the driver last night and his face is badly damaged,” said Laroy. “He is still impressed. In the hospital he was advised to seek psychological help.”
Weekly spitting and cursing
The violent incident prompted the victim’s colleagues to stop working on Thursday. Until 6 pm, no buses left the depot in Meerbeke in Ninoof. The drivers only resumed work after De Lijn announced additional safety measures.
“This incident is very extreme. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen often, but verbal aggression and spitting are things that happen every week,” said union official Laroy. He himself drove the bus for 23 years. “Ten years ago these problems were not so common and now it is especially verbal aggression that has become a social problem. Bus drivers are now begging for locked control posts.”
‘Problem lines’
In time, De Lijn will once again provide closed control posts, such as those that existed during the corona crisis, on the buses that operate on the lines between Brussels and Ninove. In addition, the public transport company calls in an extra team of inspectors. It will not be active within the borders of the Brussels region, but within the Meerbeke-Asse-Halle triangle, in support of the inspectors who are already active there today.
Laroy: “There was already an intervention team in Brussels, consisting of inspectors, who must always be manned. The team is active in the morning, afternoon and evening. In the Dilbeek region we have a few problem lines that continuously call in Brussels via Anderlecht. In addition to the extra inspectors, there will also be extra checks in collaboration with the police. These measures should increase the drivers’ sense of safety and deter travellers with bad intentions.”
In addition to line 128 (Brussels-Ninove) on which the incident took place yesterday, line 214 between Brussels and Aalst is also flanked by the extra measures.
Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- In Dilbeek, a bus driver received some serious blows from a traveller on Thursday. The victim’s colleagues then stopped work for a while, until De Lijn announced additional safety measures. “In the Dilbeek region we have a few problem lines that continuously call in Brussels via Anderlecht.”
In the Dilbeek borough of Schepdaal, a bus passenger lashed out at the driver yesterday, on a ride between Brussels and Ninove. While driving, the passenger handed out a punch because the driver had not stopped at a stop. “The perpetrator had not requested a stop and stopping between two stops is not allowed. While driving, that person gave a first punch in the face of the driver, after which the bus ended up on the verge,” says a BRUZZ reporter. “When the bus came to a stop, that person dealt a few more punches in the face, after which he started walking.”
Surveillance footage identified a suspect, an 18-year-old man from Dilbeek. He has yet to be interrogated, confirms the spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office Halle-Vilvoorde Carol Vercarre. The bus driver was taken to hospital by ambulance and has been unable to work for at least four days. “It will, I fear, be even longer. I met the driver last night and his face is badly damaged,” said Laroy. “He is still impressed. In the hospital he was advised to seek psychological help.”
Weekly spitting and cursing
The violent incident prompted the victim’s colleagues to stop working on Thursday. Until 6 pm, no buses left the depot in Meerbeke in Ninoof. The drivers only resumed work after De Lijn announced additional safety measures.
“This incident is very extreme. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen often, but verbal aggression and spitting are things that happen every week,” said union official Laroy. He himself drove the bus for 23 years. “Ten years ago these problems were not so common and now it is especially verbal aggression that has become a social problem. Bus drivers are now begging for locked control posts.”
‘Problem lines’
In time, De Lijn will once again provide closed control posts, such as those that existed during the corona crisis, on the buses that operate on the lines between Brussels and Ninove. In addition, the public transport company calls in an extra team of inspectors. It will not be active within the borders of the Brussels region, but within the Meerbeke-Asse-Halle triangle, in support of the inspectors who are already active there today.
Laroy: “There was already an intervention team in Brussels, consisting of inspectors, who must always be manned. The team is active in the morning, afternoon and evening. In the Dilbeek region we have a few problem lines that continuously call in Brussels via Anderlecht. In addition to the extra inspectors, there will also be extra checks in collaboration with the police. These measures should increase the drivers’ sense of safety and deter travellers with bad intentions.”
In addition to line 128 (Brussels-Ninove) on which the incident took place yesterday, line 214 between Brussels and Aalst is also flanked by the extra measures.
