Before 2021, there were no more than 5 to 6 physical attacks per year, last year it was double, of which 8 only between September and December 2021. The reasons for his attacks are often linked to the non-wearing of the mask or to problems with the validity of the transport ticket. To avoid further problems, the management of the Vitalis network will invest more than €330,000 in the safety of its employees.
In this action plan, a large part of this sum will be used to equip all buses with anti-aggression glass, stronger than the plexiglass that already exists in buses. The other measure is the recruitment of 2 controllers in addition to the 8 agents already in place.
Finally, the last major point is the training bus drivers to help them better manage stressful situations with users.
“Exceptional situation, exceptional means”welcomes Cédric Faivre, director of the Vitalis network. “We took this subject very seriously, and that is why we are putting these means in place to protect our drivers, but also Vitalis users because they too can be victims of attacks”adds the director of the transport network in Poitiers.
On the side of the unions, this Vitalis action plan is considered insufficientbecause for them, there will still be a lack of controllers on the network, and the psychological treatment of agents has not been taken into account by the management.