Daytime the worst for bus driver attacks

THE majority of attacks on Edinburgh's bus drivers take place during the day, new figures have revealed.

There were a total of 91 assaults on Lothian Buses drivers in 2007, with just 16 occurring on the firm's night-time services.

The News revealed the extent of the attacks last month, with drivers telling how they have had to contend with being spat on, stabbed and attacked with metal poles in a catalogue of assaults.

In May last year a male driver was stabbed at the wheel of his bus after challenging a group of youths. The 47-year-old warned the boys after they started hassling other passengers on the number three service on Westfield Road, Gorgie.

He was punched by one youth, and another pulled out a knife, reached into his cab, and stabbed the driver in the left thigh.

Figures from Lothian Buses also reveal that the number of passengers being assaulted every year has nearly trebled since 2002 – with 39 attacks last year alone.

There is now CCTV on the majority of the firm's buses and swab samples are taken after any spitting attacks.