Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced on Tuesday (December 31) that they have completed the installation of protective barriers on all buses in response to an increase in assaults on bus drivers, as reported by City News.
A total of 2,105 buses have been equipped with shatter-resistant reinforced glass barriers made of steel and laminated low-reflection material. The design and manufacturing of these barriers were completed at Metro’s Central Maintenance Facility in downtown Los Angeles, with most of the installation work carried out by employees from the operations department.
Officials stated that Metro used approximately 55,000 square feet of materials, enough to cover an entire football field.
In April last year, Metro’s board of directors approved an emergency procurement motion to expedite the installation process. On December 30, Metro completed the installation of the final barrier, becoming the first transit agency in the United States to implement this type of protective modification on all buses.
These barriers provide additional safety protection for drivers, preventing physical attacks such as punching, grabbing, throwing objects, and spitting.
The installation of these barriers has already shown positive results. Metro reported that from April to September 2024, the probability of driver assaults decreased by 58% on buses equipped with barriers, and incidents of spitting also significantly reduced.
Metro’s bus system is the second busiest in the United States. The agency operates over 12,000 bus stops and has provided more than 2.227 billion bus rides since November of last year within a service area covering 1,447 square miles.
Furthermore, Metro has added onboard cameras, digital video recorders, and emergency buttons for drivers to seek help. In addition, the agency has implemented conflict mitigation training and launched the “See Something, Say Something” campaign to encourage passengers to report issues and remain vigilant.
Under California law, assaulting bus drivers can result in up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.