Rock throwers cut bus service
BY RODERICK SHAW
06 Apr, 2010 09:51 AM
ROCKS smashed windows on a bus in Swallow Drive, Erskine Park, last week, prompting a partial ban on the street by bus drivers until safety measures are adopted.
The rocks smashed three windows and the door of a bus on the evening of March 29.
``Westbus services will not go to Swallow Drive after 6pm and will drop passengers at Erskine Road, a short walk away,'' a Transport Workers Union spokeswoman said.
The union wants a risk assessment conducted by the police, Westbus and the Ministry of Transport.
A union organiser, Darcy Waller, said the rock-throwing was the worst such incident he could remember.
``They were extremely lucky there was no one on the bus,'' Mr Waller said.
''There were glass fragments taking up about half the length of it.''
He said rock-throwing had been going on for some years and it was lucky that, apart from a few minor injuries, no one had been seriously hurt or even killed.
A spokesman for Westbus said: ``The safety of drivers and passengers is of paramount importance to Westbus.
``The company is working closely with police to discuss how the risk of further such incidents can be reduced to enable services to resume in this area after dark.''
Mr Waller said police indicated there would be more patrols in the area, but he believes an
overall safety assessment is needed.
He also called on the public to help.
``If someone sees another person lurking around, acting suspiciously, they should contact the police,'' he said.
``If anyone knows anything, they should do the same.
``All the bus drivers want to do is say goodbye to their families in the morning and hello to them at night.''
Anyone with any information about rock-throwing can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.
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