Tenerife Council, Unions Agree Major Bus Driver Safety Plan

The Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife) and major trade unions have reached an important agreement to improve safety for the more than 1,500 drivers of the public transport company, TITSA.

This agreement, which aims to transform how professional drivers are protected, comes just two days after staff raised concerns about growing insecurity. The latest incident involved a driver who suffered a broken finger after being violently attacked for asking a passenger not to smoke.

The new plan covers physical, legal, and financial aspects, marking a significant change in how public transport is managed on the island.

A key part of the agreement, signed with unions USO, MSK, and UGT, is a request to the Canary Islands Government. They want TITSA drivers to be officially recognized as administrative authorities while on duty. This change in legal status is vital because it would make reporting incidents much simpler. It would also mean that drivers' statements are presumed to be true, making it easier to identify and punish attackers.

In addition, the Minister of Mobility, Eulalia García, pointed out that the Canary Islands Road Transport Law will be updated in 2025. This update will classify violent or inappropriate behavior on public transport as a very serious offense, with fines ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 euros. To make sure everyone knows about these new rules, the Island Council will launch an information campaign on bus screens, social media, and other digital platforms before the law takes full effect.

Beyond punishing users, TITSA itself will play a more active role in defending its employees. A new agreement will allow the company to act as a private prosecutor in all cases where its workers are attacked. This will remove the individual legal burden that has, until now, stopped many drivers from filing complaints.

For physical safety, the most noticeable change will be the gradual installation of protective screens in the driver's cabin across the entire bus fleet. These screens, custom-designed for each bus model, will provide an effective barrier against physical assaults, spitting, and insults. Employees have described these situations as "common," especially on routes in the south of the island.

The president of the Tenerife Island Council, Rosa Dávila, had previously stated her intention to strengthen measures against disrespectful behavior on public transport. With this set of actions, the goal is to end the idea that such incidents go unpunished and to stop them from becoming normal, like the recent attack on driver Javier. This will ensure a safer workplace for staff and a more respectful service for all passengers.