MORE than one in six bus drivers in Scotland have faced physical violence at work and 84 per cent say abuse has increased over the last year, a new survey revealed today.

The findings come from a mass survey of bus driver members by transport union Unite in the wake of the death of Elgin bus driver Keith Rollinson in February.

Mr Rollinson, 58, died of cardiac arrest following an attack at an Elgin Bus Station after he refused to let a “noticeably intoxicated” teenager board his bus — a 15-year-old later pleaded guilty to his culpable homicide.

Unite found that 83 per cent of drivers faced verbal abuse at work, while 16 per cent — more than one in six — had been subject to physical violence.

Almost 80 per cent of cases were never reported to police and 48 per cent were not reported to employers; where they did, 69 per cent remained unhappy with employers’ responses.

The union has also demanded increased police or community warden presence on buses, CCTV coverage on vehicles and at stations, panic buttons, and other enhanced security features like internal locking systems.

Unite Scottish secretary Derek Thomson backed the 99 per cent of respondents who demanded stronger laws to protect drivers and called for the SNP Scottish government to host summit on the matter.

He said: “This is a national public safety issue affecting drivers and passengers.

“We need legislation, without delay, which addresses this wave of anti-social behaviour and violence towards bus workers because as each day passes drivers are being put at risk.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: “The Scottish government has to step up and step in to ensure our members feel safe at work.

“A do-nothing response is not an option.”

The Scottish government was approached for comment.