Safety measure
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The modifications were carried out as a result of findings by a working party consisting of operator officials and trade union representatives. Meetings were also held with other bus operators and the local police.
The bus modifications consist of fitting polycarbonate screens to the interior cab doors.
This necessitated the designing and fitting of guard rails, modifying the destination blind aperatures and sight doors, fitting stronger hinges on the cab doors and actually changing the doors for a door around seven inches higher.
Modifications also had to be carried out to the motorised Setright ticket machines which are connected with fare boxes.
The modifications cost around E150 per bus and since they were carried out in July no Cleveland Transit driver has been physically assaulted on duty.
Simplification of the fare scale and emphasis on driver attitudes have also helped reduce the number of driver/passenger arguments on buses and this too is reflected in the reduction on the number of incidents.
The working party meetings have also led to regular meetings at divisional level with the police which have led to an invitation to attend community relations panels.
The Cleveland police visits every junior and primary school in the county on a three yearly basis and has now agreed to provide time to promote bus safety and correct travel manners during these visits.
This has now developed into an "adopt-a-bus" scheme under which schools are invited to adopt an actual Cleveland Transit bus for three years. The scheme involves each child in a school being given a publicity kit containing a pen, bookmark and leaflets on vandalism and safety.
On the day of the Cleveland Transit involvement a photograph of the bus to be adopted and details of its price, date of registration, mileage and number of passengers carried are given to each child.
The name of the school is fixed above the windscreen on the vehicle and as a result the pupils are taking an active interest in the bus and the operation in general.
• Cleveland Transit is saving money by having 12-year-old Leyland Atlantean double-deckers rebodied.
Each chassis is reconditioned and fitted with a new engine and transmission before going to Northern Counties where a new body is fitted. The undertaking reports savings of around £25,000 per vehicle against the cost of a brand new double-decker.