BUS drivers face racism, unwanted sexual advances, threats of physical violence and verbal abuse according to a new survey.

Unite the union have released findings which show more than half of bus drivers do not feel safe at work.

The survey spoke to 1,100 bus drivers across Scotland and polled them on instances of abuse faced in the job.

Responses revealed that 84 per cent of respondents said they had received verbal abuse, 16 per cent has said sexual abuse while one per cent spoke of sexual abuse or assault.

“The abuse is terrible,” one respondent said. “I have been spat at three times by teenagers in the last 12 months.

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“Threats of harming me and saying they know where I live so threats to my home and family.

“There’s no point even reporting it as there’s nothing done about these individuals – they are just allowed to travel, say and do what they want.”

Of the 52 per cent of respondents reported the abuse to their employer, 69 per cent said they were dissatisfied with their employer’s response.

A shocking 85 per cent of bus drivers felt they believe the abuse is ‘just part of the job’.

Another respondent said: “Being a female driver, I find I get more abuse given than my male counterparts.

“I’ve been threatened with being stabbed multiple times and on one occasion threatened with rape.

“I’m at the stage now where if there’s a large group of teens waiting at a bus stop, I won’t stop because I know it’s just going to be trouble from the get go.”

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Unite the union have been campaigning to improve bus driver safety in the aftermath of Keith Rollinson’s death.

The 58-year-old died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest after a violent assault from a 15-year-old boy.

He had refused to allow the attacker to board the bus due to him being intoxicated which led to the assault.

The union has called for stronger legislative measures to be enacted to protect bus drivers at work.

Sharon Graham, general secretary for Unite, added: “Urgent measures must be taken to address the staggering level of abuse being suffered by bus drivers.

“In no way is this acceptable. Unite members will not tolerate abuse any longer.

“The Scottish Government has to step up and step in to ensure our members feel safe at work. A do nothing response is not an option.

“Unite is working with its members to explore all options to ensure endemic workplace abuse is tackled in the workplace.”