Bus drivers used to receive respectful thanks at the end of a quiet ride, but these days some say they work in fear of being punched, stabbed, screamed at or spat on — and not only by passengers.

Key points: A bus driver of 23 years says his job has changed for the worst over the past decade

A bus driver of 23 years says his job has changed for the worst over the past decade Data shows more than 95 per cent of drivers have been abused and 81 per cent threatened with harm

Data shows more than 95 per cent of drivers have been abused and 81 per cent threatened with harm Union says a range of factors, including timetable pressure, is adding to the stress of the job

As well as fare evasion and aggression inside the bus, road rage and the pressure of tight timetables are also adding to the stress of the job.

Brett Crutchfield has been driving buses in regional Victoria for 23 years, and said that over the past decade he has seen a marked change in the way drivers are treated.

"I keep dealing with a lot of angry people," Mr Crutchfield said.

"People running late for appointments, people who have missed the bus, and they keep taking their frustrations out on me — the driver.

"They just don't give a s*** about the driver and they don't give a s*** about the other people on the bus."

Abuse is part of the job

Drivers have been spat at, punched, verbally abused and, in extreme cases, threatened or stabbed with syringes and knives, according to Transport Safety Victoria.

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"Whether it's because the bus is running late, or someone's just had a bad day or they don't want to pay a fare, the driver gets abused," Mr McIntosh said.

Data collected between 2008 and 2018 by Transport Safety Victoria showed 241 Victorian bus drivers were physically assaulted, with 20 incidents occurring in 2018.

In Queensland, figures for this year by the Transport Workers Union show that 96.5 per cent of bus drivers had been abused and 81.2 per cent had been threatened with physical harm.

"These events are extremely traumatising for drivers — the impacts on them and their families can be long-lasting and can make returning to the job of driving a bus very difficult," said Lisa Faldon, acting director of Bus Safety Victoria, which is part of Transport Safety Victoria.

Pressure cooker

Nick McIntosh, national assistant secretary at the Transport Workers Union, said there were a range of factors contributing to increased stress for bus drivers.

"Governments put pressure on bus companies to meet timetabling deadlines," Mr McIntosh said.

Vehicles and Brisbane City Council buses sit on the Victoria Bridge crossing the Brisbane River at peak hour. ( ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photo )

"Companies can lose contracts if they fall below certain levels."

The pressure to meet key performance indicators as well as the casualisation of the workforce was also adding to workplace stress, he said.

"Mental health issues are becoming very prevalent in the bus industry, particularly amongst men," Mr McIntosh said.

"It's the combination of job security pressure, the pressure to get everything running on time, the pressure to somehow keep everybody happy and then, of course, dealing with unruly passengers."

'All hell would break loose'

Mr Crutchfield said that the stress of his work has at times taken a toll on his home life.

"At the start it used to affect me," Mr Crutchfield said.

"You see the same locals, they get on the bus and they unload on you and you become their counsellor.

"Then you've got these meatheads up the back causing trouble — it used to get to me quite a lot in the early stages.

"Then I would go home and all hell would break loose.

"I unleashed because I couldn't do that wearing the uniform."

Over time, talking to colleagues and using employee support programs had helped.

"Now I leave what's happened at work, at work," Mr Crutchfield said.

"I speak to my manager and tell them what's happened and if there is a problem I have outlets to deal with it.

"I haven't taken it home to my home life, there has been a lot of talking and it helps a hell of a lot."

Investing in mental health

Rebecca Christian's family has been running bus company, Christians, since 1980.

One hundred drivers ferry 23,000 passengers across 15 bus routes in Bendigo, in regional Victoria, every month.

"We provide a face-to-face employee support program for our staff and if anyone feels like they have had an incident or an issue on the bus and they need to come off the road, we take them off the road," Ms Christian said.

Glenn Christian and his daughter, Rebecca Christian, offer mental health support for their staff. ( ABC Central Victoria: Peter Andrea )

Mr McIntosh said the Bendigo company's investment into the mental health of bus drivers was not considered normal for the industry.

Mr McIntosh said the issue of mental health was generally not well understood.

"I think what happens particularly in metropolitan areas is bus companies don't have the resources to just facilitate those sorts of things," he said.