Security cameras on buses

Author: Paige Hilton

Source: Guelph Tribune

Date: 23/1/07

Guelph Transit is installing video surveillance systems on its buses and mobility vehicles in an effort to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers. The systems are being installed on Guelph Transit's 54 buses and five mobility vehicles. It's an initiative that will hopefully deter physical and verbal assaults on drivers, as well as vandalism of city buses, says Guelph Transit's supervisor of operations, driver training and development.

"We don't have the exact numbers of verbal assaults on our drivers, spitting on our drivers, but the numbers are increasing," said Elisabeth Vandermade. While verbal assaults make up the majority of incidents bus drivers have to deal with, there have been a couple of physical assaults that prompted transit to look into more security measures.

In October 2005 a driver was punched in the face, said Vandermade. In March 2006, another driver was assaulted in St. George's Square when he was punched, knocked to the ground and kicked in the head when he refused to honour used transfers.

The surveillance system uses up to eight digital video cameras in each bus and a hard drive to store recorded images. Whenever the bus is operating, the surveillance system is running.

The systems are being paid for with Ontario provincial gas tax funds, said Vandermade. They're being installed in Guelph by a British Columbia company, Seon Design Inc.

One Guelph Transit driver said it's too early to tell whether the video systems will serve as an effective deterrent.

"I think it will help," said Harry Rooyakkers, who has been a city bus driver for four years. "It's supposed to be a preventative measure, and only time will tell if it actually works."

Rooyakkers said he thinks surveillance footage from nighttime bus rides will have to be studied to see if instances of abuse to drivers is decreasing.

Vandermade said Guelph Transit wants the surveillance systems to be a deterrent to violence, verbal abuse of drivers, and vandalism. But they should also provide a sense of heightened security for passengers, she said.

"We don't know if it will stop it completely, but it should be a deterrent," she said.

The surveillance systems are one of many safety measures being implemented at Guelph Transit following the attacks on bus drivers. Last March, city council asked Guelph Transit to look at measures it could take to increase safety for drivers.

Surveillance systems in all Guelph Transit buses and mobility vehicles will be fully operational by the end of January.

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