Ottawa's transit union says there could be more drivers leaving their posts to avoid confrontations with angry passengers.

Garry Queale, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 279, said Wednesday that drivers have the right to walk off the bus if they are confronted or distracted.

"We're asking our drivers if you have problems with passengers, with the bus, call the controller . . . if it's a health and safety issue we have health and safety people," he said. "We're asking them to please avoid all confrontations if possible."

Queale said the problems with buses arriving off-schedule are because of poor scheduling by management, and riders should complain to OC Transpo instead of the drivers.

"There are definitely scheduling problems since the September booking, with all of the cuts," he said. "The drivers are under scrutiny with the tight schedules."

His remarks come after passengers reported a driver on route 5 left the bus at the Rideau Centre Monday after being asked why his bus was consistently 40 minutes late.

Queale said that driver is meeting with OC Transpo management Wednesday.

Both he and OC Transpo manager Alain Mercier said the driver should have called the control centre instead of leaving the bus unattended.

"They are to contact the control centre and receive instructions from the control centre. We never abandon a bus," Mercier said, adding the city is investigating the incident.

Instead, Mercier said drivers could stop the bus, open the exits and wait outside until a supervisor or relief arrives to help.

Riders were split on how drivers are reacting and being treated.

"The bus driver shouldn't have the right to do that," said one. "The bus driver is making other people who have time schedules late for what they have to do."

"I feel sorry for bus drivers these days because people are right away jumping on their backs," another said.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's John Hua