Queensland bus drivers are raising alarms about a worsening safety crisis following a series of rock attacks on buses, allegedly involving youths riding e-bikes. One driver was left deeply shaken, and school children were stranded on the Gold Coast after a bus windscreen was shattered during the afternoon peak on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on the Route 768 bus, which was traveling along Golden Four Drive through Tugun just after 5:30 PM. It is believed that a group of youths on e-bikes targeted the bus by throwing rock-filled balloons, smashing the windscreen while school children and other passengers were on board. The driver attempted to steer the bus away but was forced to pull over with hazard lights flashing. Passengers were instructed to disembark and wait for a replacement service. Although the driver was not physically injured, the ordeal left him badly shaken.
Growing Concern Over Driver Safety
The Transport Workers' Union (TWU) has expressed deep concern, noting that attacks on drivers are becoming increasingly frequent, prompting experienced staff to consider leaving the industry. TWU spokesperson Josh Millroy stated, "We're seeing a real crisis in the bus industry now where seasoned drivers don't want to stay in; they're just doing their job and they're being targeted."
Bus operator Kinetic responded by deploying security crews to assess the damage before escorting the damaged vehicle back to the depot. During the incident, other drivers were warned to avoid Golden Four Drive, a busy coastal road near Gold Coast Airport that runs parallel to the beachfront through Tugun and Bilinga. Diversions remained in place for approximately two hours.
Mayor Condemns Attacks
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate strongly condemned the attacks, saying, "My feeling is we don't have room for this kind of activity on the Gold Coast." This incident marks the second such attack in the area in recent months. In May, another bus crashed into a tree about three kilometers from Tuesday's attack after its windscreen was smashed by rocks allegedly thrown by riders on e-bikes. Kinetic reported that two additional buses were also targeted across the city on the same night. Queensland Police are now investigating whether these incidents are connected.
