New laws imposing jail time on anyone who viciously attacks a paramedic should be extended to include bus drivers, their union says.

The Andrews government this week announced a crackdown on assaults against emergency services workers, promising to make it more difficult for violent attackers to avoid jail time.

The Transport Workers Union’s Victorian branch now wants bus drivers afforded the same protections, arguing that its members are facing a rising number of attacks.

TWU Victorian secretary John Berger said bus drivers were “fully exposed” and vulnerable to violent incidents that included robbery and assault.

“Bus drivers were once highly respected members of the community; this is sadly no longer the case,” Mr Berger said.