PSV operators concerned about safety, says AOPT head

The recent stabbing of a ZR driver has heightened concern among private public service vehicle (PSV) operators about security while plying their trade, says Chairman of Alliance Owners of Public Transportation (AOPT) Roy Raphael.

According to reports, the driver of the Route 6 van was stabbed several times by another motorist in an apparent case of road rage, in the Hindsbury, St Michael area, and had to be hospitalised.

Although saying he had not yet received a full report on the incident, Raphael said AOPT members had long been concerned about their safety as the number of confrontations with passengers had increased significantly in recent years.

“Not only our drivers, but we heard of situations where Transport Board workers are attacked. We’ve heard of situations when taxi workers were attacked because fares were in dispute…. We have heard of an incident where a driver was on his route to Wanstead, the [passenger] refused to pay him and started to stab at him.

“So these reports are not very good for us…. Within the last two years, we have seen attacks against our workers increase,” he said, although he did not provide any figures.

Back in July, in a case that gained massive public attention, two men tried to rob ZR driver Marlon Tempro at gunpoint.

Raphael renewed his call for transport officials to meet with his association to discuss these security concerns before there is a fatal incident.

“These things, from my view, are frightening because we believe that if these incidents continue [happening] to our public service vehicle operators, they are going to retaliate,” he said.

“We want to meet with the Minister of Transport Santia Bradshaw…. She promised us a meeting some six months ago. We are not even in a position to talk to the Transport Authority because we are still awaiting the Transport Authority to meet with us.” 

(SB)