The emotion is strong among the employees of SETRAM, the public transport network of the agglomeration of Le Mans after the attack on a bus driver on Wednesday June 1, 2022 in the Pontlieue district. This driver was violently beaten by two individuals who, according to information from France Bleu Maine, were arrested the next day by the police. By mutual agreement, SETRAM’s management and the company’s trade unions have decided an interruption of bus traffic this Friday, June 3 from 6 p.m.in support of this driver, injured in the ankles, hip, head and an elbow that was fractured.
Indifference and verbal abuse
Without going to these extremes – fortunately – the 471 tram drivers and, even more so, bus drivers, are regularly taken to task. Indifference and verbal abuse are part of their daily life. ” I have just been insulted by a cyclist, for example. But nothing serious, waiting for the next time says a driver who has worked at SETRAM for seven years. ” Our daily life is more and more insults. We feel that people are on edge and let off steam on us a little “, she adds. ” The arms of honor, the fingers of honor, it is recurrent. It’s not exceptional. It’s daily “, describes, for his part an experienced driver.
“In 95% of cases, it goes well”
Like most of his colleagues, the Manceau tries to make sense of things. ” In 95% of cases, it goes well. The rest are nonsense. In my opinion, some people are not educated “, he says. The driver denounces the indifference shown by some travelers. ” Today, people no longer look at us, no longer consider us. They enter the bus like in a mill “, he reports. ” As soon as things annoy them, we are the first fuses. They blame us for being late or driving abruptly “, Details this driver who says he manages to take a step back. ” I have armor “, he confides.
“We should be classified among the professions at risk”
In addition to these insults and sideways glances, there are more and more obstacles in the streets of the agglomeration of Le Mans. So many disrespects. ” Badly parked cars, refusal of priority. You always have to be on the alert “, testifies a game bus driver. In these conditions, keeping your cool is not necessarily obvious but essential, insists a driver, between two trips, place de l’Eperon.
” What to do? she wonders. ” I do not know. We really need to be considered, perhaps as a risky profession “. The driver remembers a ” training on letting go for this kind of behavior “. She also confides her fears: I don’t want it to be my turn “. SETRAM makes 115,000 trips every day in the Le Mans conurbation, 40% of which on board its buses.