The Department for Transport does not hold data on the numbers of attacks against bus drivers. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are able to provide the following information:
Number of attacks 2002-03 483 2003-04 398 2004-05 403 2005-06 405 2006-07 380 Total 2,069 Source: Data collected by HSE and local authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995
For this period, no fatal injuries to bus drivers involving acts of violence were reported to HSE or local authorities (under RIDDOR).
It is important to note that incidents involving bus drivers will only be reported to HSE or local authorities if they come into the RIDDOR criteria of ‘fatal’ or ‘major’, or if the attack resulted in a period of sick absence of more than three days. There will of course be other instances of less serious violence or verbal attacks which are not recorded centrally. And in many cases, the bus driver concerned may choose to not report the incident to his or her employer.