Only in Malta: Bus driver threatens passenger with assault

[Shimbleshanks]

Just come back from a trip to Malta. I took one of the limited stop services from the airport to my hotel (X1, X2, can't remember which one) About 20 minutes into the journey an African guy (one of the island's refugees) went rushing up to the front of the bus.
"Hey man! You didn't stop!"
"This is an express bus, we don't stop there. Next stop's the Unversity."
"But that's miles! I've got to get off there; I can't walk all the way back!"
"We don't stop until University..."

I'm didn't then hear what the guy then said, but the driver pulled into the side of the road, slammed on the brakes and got out of his seat, brandishing his fists at the guy and yelling something in Maltese. He didn't actually hit him, but looked like he very much wanted to. Then the driver got back into his seat, and drove to a layby at the side of a busy dual carriageway, and opened the door. (I'm not sure if it was an official stop.)
"Now get off!"
"No way man! It's in the middle of nowhere."
"Get off my f***ing bus!"

An impasse ensued, and with the engine stopped, so did the aircon, and it was a hot day. (There were a good 40 passengers on board) The driver got onto control. Eventually, an official from Public Transport Malta turned up in a car, and started to remonstrate with the passenger, who still refused to budge.

Then, after 15 minutes or so, two policemen turned up. They finally persuaded the guy to get off. They didn't seem to arrest him; in fact I got the impression that they agreed to drive him to wherever he'd been going to, and we too went on our way, the best part of an hour late.

Has anyone else come across a driver hitting or threatening a passenger, as opposed to the other way round?

 

[Mwanesh]

It happens a lot but is not reported most of the time. There are some areas where, if you do it as driver, no-one bats an eyelid because it's the local troublemakers.

When I went to Sheffield I know one driver was nearly punched by a group of 3 young men. He just got out of his cab and gave them a proper beating.

 

[Robertj21a]

Just come back from a trip to Malta. I took one of the limited stop services from the airport to my hotel (X1, X2, can't remember which one) About 20 minutes into the journey an African guy (one of the island's refugees) went rushing up to the front of the bus.
"Hey man! You didn't stop!"
"This is an express bus, we don't stop there. Next stop's the Unversity."
"But that's miles! I've got to get off there; I can't walk all the way back!"
"We don't stop until University..."

I'm didn't then hear what the guy then said, but the driver pulled into the side of the road, slammed on the brakes and got out of his seat, brandishing his fists at the guy and yelling something in Maltese. He didn't actually hit him, but looked like he very much wanted to. Then the driver got back into his seat, and drove to a layby at the side of a busy dual carriageway, and opened the door. (I'm not sure if it was an official stop.)
"Now get off!"
"No way man! It's in the middle of nowhere."
"Get off my f***ing bus!"

An impasse ensued, and with the engine stopped, so did the aircon, and it was a hot day. (There were a good 40 passengers on board) The driver got onto control. Eventually, an official from Public Transport Malta turned up in a car, and started to remonstrate with the passenger, who still refused to budge.

Then, after 15 minutes or so, two policemen turned up. They finally persuaded the guy to get off. They didn't seem to arrest him; in fact I got the impression that they agreed to drive him to wherever he'd been going to, and we too went on our way, the best part of an hour late.

Has anyone else come across a driver hitting or threatening a passenger, as opposed to the other way round?

It's Malta, they've always had a fairly 'interesting' attitude to other people who disagree with them. The police may then agree/disagree with you - but it probably won't be on the basis of any laws. Just don't bring politics, or the Mafia, into the debate.

 

[jonesy3001]

deleted

 

[Robertj21a]

mods please close this thread before it gets out of hand, a couple of bloggers have been killed slagging off malta and one of them wasn't far from where i live.

Stupid comment. This is an open forum.

 

[theblackwatch]

mods please close this thread before it gets out of hand, a couple of bloggers have been killed slagging off malta and one of them wasn't far from where i live.

Yes we will close it if it gets out of hand. But it hasn't....

 

[Dentonian]

It happens a lot but is not reported most of the times.There are some areas where if you do it as driver no one bats an eyelid because its the local troublemakers.When i went to Sheffield i know one driver was nearly punched by a group of 3 young men.He just got out of his cab and gave them a proper beating .

I witnessed a carbon copy of this on a Stagecoach Manchester bus many years ago. The three cowards in question had regularly been boarding our rush hour bus despite others covering the same stretch of route. Every time they deliberately waited until the bus was barely 30 metres from their alighting stop" before running downstairs, ringing the bell and immediately starting an argument with the driver. On this occasion, one of them smashed something on the cab door and threatened the driver. So, despite being outnumbered, he rose to the bait, took one of them off the bus - a scuffle ensued and the trio ran away. Meanwhile, a passenger had set off the alarm and the Police were on the way. Driver got back on, apologised to passengers and we had to wait for the Police. This was so long ago, that the Police arrived quickly, took down details, checked the driver was ok to continue and that was that. Never saw the cowards again. Today, no doubt the driver would be charged with assault.

 

[alex397]

Today, no doubt the driver would be charged with assault.

Without a doubt!

 

[Shimbleshanks]

I witnessed a carbon copy of this on a Stagecoach Manchester bus many years ago. The three cowards in question had regularly been boarding our rush hour bus despite others covering the same stretch of route. Every time they deliberately waited until the bus was barely 30 metres from their alighting stop" before running downstairs, ringing the bell and immediately starting an argument with the driver. On this occasion, one of them smashed something on the cab door and threatened the driver. So, despite being outnumbered, he rose to the bait, took one of them off the bus - a scuffle ensued and the trio ran away. Meanwhile, a passenger had set off the alarm and the Police were on the way. Driver got back on, apologised to passengers and we had to wait for the Police. This was so long ago, that the Police arrived quickly, took down details, checked the driver was ok to continue and that was that. Never saw the cowards again. Today, no doubt the driver would be charged with assault.

The only difference in the Malta case though is that they guy hadn't physically threatened the driver - he just said something to him...

 

[northwichcat]

There's been incidents in the UK when drivers have been found guilty of assault and sometimes it involves assaulting a driver working for a rival operator when the two operators have engaged in a bus war.

 

[BestWestern]

What on earth is going on in Malta then, do they have some 'social issues' troubling them?

 

[W-on-Sea]

What on earth is going on in Malta then, do they have some 'social issues' troubling them?

Not really, I'd say it's more that it is quite a traditional and old-fashioned culture, and in some quite ways quite macho. (There is a problem of organized crime, too, but that's separate from this).

 

[Sebastian O]

I believe the buses used to be operated by self employed bus owners if I recall and was only changed over a few years ago... if I recall? May have something to do with how he was

 

[northwichcat]

I believe the buses used to be operated by self employed bus owners if I recall and was only changed over a few years ago... if I recall? May have something to do with how he was

Didn't the Maltese government award a contract to Arriva to run services on the Island which is why the old yellow/orange buses disappeared and some ex-London bendies appeared?

 

[BestWestern]

Didn't the Maltese government award a contract to Arriva to run services on the Island which is why the old yellow/orange buses disappeared and some ex-London bendies appeared?

They did indeed, but Arriva eventually handed it back I believe, after making an utter mess of it.

 

[delt1c]

mods please close this thread before it gets out of hand, a couple of bloggers have been killed slagging off malta and one of them wasn't far from where i live.

The mu

mods please close this thread before it gets out of hand, a couple of bloggers have been killed slagging off malta and one of them wasn't far from where i live.

i live in Malta ( and have done for many years) think before you post. The case you refer to has nothing to do with this. We live in a safe country here. Please mods keep this thread open

 

[Robertj21a]

The mu

i live in Malta ( and have done for many years) think before you post. The case you refer to has nothing to do with this. We live in a safe country here. Please mods keep this thread open

Well said, common sense rules.

 

[northwichcat]

They did indeed, but Arriva eventually handed it back I believe, after making an utter mess of it.

Just checked and it was nationalised and called Malta Public Transport (MPT) only for the state to later sell MPT to Autobuses Urbanos de León who still trade under the MPT name.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

I believe the buses used to be operated by self employed bus owners if I recall and was only changed over a few years ago... if I recall? May have something to do with how he was

Perhaps, but I've been visiting Malta every year for 25+ years, right back to the days when the old buses were green and white and run directly by the Government. The drivers were a stroppy lot then and they're stroppy now...

 

[Mwanesh]

They did indeed, but Arriva eventually handed it back I believe, after making an utter mess of it.

The Malta government franchised everything in one go. It wasn't all Arriva's fault for trying to bring in proper working conditions. The unions were militant. It was a 10 year contract. Arriva just gave up .A few UK drivers were flown there to work at the beginning and I enjoyed it. The locals were just a law unto themselves.

 

[Robertj21a]

Perhaps, but I've been visiting Malta every year for 25+ years, right back to the days when the old buses were green and white and run directly by the Government. The drivers were a stroppy lot then and they're stroppy now...

Agreed, they're born stroppy - that was a key issue that Arriva overlooked.