Silver Spring, MD – The Bipartisan Bus Operator Safety and Security Act introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) will help address the epidemic of violence on U.S. public transit systems, says the Amalgamated Transit Union, the largest union representing transit workers in North America.
Since its inception, the ATU has pushed for comprehensive safety reform in the transit industry, including implementing more training programs, installing fully enclosed barriers on buses, improving communication systems, and enhancing emergency response protocols.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t hear about one of our members being shot, stabbed, spit on, verbally abused, and more. Every day, at least 42 transit workers are assaulted on U.S. transit systems,” said ATU International President John Costa. “The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act invests in critical transit security measures, including an enclosed driver workstation, to better protect our transit workers, riders, and communities. Operator safety is about public safety.”
According to federal data from the National Transit Database, there are more than 40 assaults per day on transit workers nationwide, with 16,000 per year in 2024 and 2025. Some have lost their lives over a measly $2.50 in fare. Passengers have gotten hurt too; buses have crashed into buildings as bus drivers get yanked out of their seats.
The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act updates Section 5329 of Title 49 of the United States Code to ensure that, beginning two years after enactment, the operator workstation of any new fixed route bus 30 feet or longer purchased with federal funds will be equipped with a barrier. These barriers are designed to:
- Fully enclose the workstation and prevent unwanted entry of persons, fluids, or objects;
- Reach from the bus floor to the ceiling; and
- Maintain clear lines of sight for the operator to the exterior of the bus.
“This piece of legislation is a proactive step toward building public transit systems where safety and service go hand in hand,” Costa continued. “We thank Senators Jack Reed and Josh Hawley for introducing the Bus Operator Safety and Security Act to make the workplace safer for our members and riders.”