SEK - THEY ASK FOR MEASURES TO PROTECT BUS DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS - 'WE SHOULD NOT FIND OURSELVES IN THE UNPLEASANT POSITION OF ACTING AFTER THE FACT' - Filenews 14/4
OMEPEGE SEK invites all competent bodies to an immediate meeting, with the aim of taking substantial and effective measures for the protection of drivers and passengers, both in urban and intercity transport.
"It is with regret that we return to the safety issues of professional bus drivers, after the recent incident of attack on a city bus driver and passengers in Nicosia. We have repeatedly highlighted the serious issues that concern both the safety of drivers and passengers," the union said in a statement.
"It is inconceivable, in 2026, that employees will be at risk of unprovoked attacks in the performance of their duties, without the necessary protection measures being taken," he adds.
He notes that as the Transport Federation of SEK, they have submitted specific suggestions to the companies, the Ministry of Transport, the competent Parliamentary Committee on Transport and all stakeholders in passenger transport.
"These include the installation of a protective canopy for the driver, a measure that is already being implemented in many countries internationally. If our specific recommendation had been adopted, the risk in this particular incident would have been significantly reduced, both for the driver and the passengers, given that the attack took place while the bus was moving," he adds.
OMEPEGE SEK states, finally, that "with the repeated incidents observed in our country, we express our strong concern and hope that we will not find ourselves in the unpleasant position of acting after the fact, after a possible tragic incident, which we wish to avoid".
