French Lawmakers Debate Transport Safety Overhaul as Bus Driver Attacks Surge

Proposed legislation aims to combat rising violence in public transport and introduce stricter measures for passenger behavior.

Bus driver assaults on the RATP network have more than doubled in three years, climbing from 690 incidents in 2021 to 1,400 in 2024.
The proposed law includes provisions to expand the use of body cameras for bus drivers and controllers, following positive feedback from prior trials.
New offenses, such as 'habitual incivility' and 'train surfing,' are being introduced to address repeated disruptive behavior and risky stunts on metro systems.
Transport security forces may gain new powers, including conducting pat-downs and operating outside station boundaries to address issues like street vending near transit hubs.
The legislation also seeks to authorize advanced surveillance technologies, including 'smart cameras' to monitor crowd movements and abandoned items.