THE coronavirus epidemic, which continued to affect the world, also affected bus drivers in the capital London. With the spread of the Covid-19 since March, many sectors were temporarily closed, but bus drivers were again on the job. Since the beginning of the epidemic period, 42 bus drivers have died due to Covid-19.
According to a report published on the BBC last month, bus drivers demanded better protection conditions after the rise of deaths across the country. As TfL employees lost their lives from the virus, other employees called for better protection against Covid-19.
This week, at Londra Gazete we evaluated the latest situation with Mustafa Bölükbaşı, who has been working as TfL London bus driver for more than 20 years. In our special interview, where we talked about the effect of coronavirus on bus drivers, Mustafa Bölükbaşı stated that not enough measures were taken at the beginning of the pandemic, but better conditions have been created in the current situation.
Bölükbaşı said“At the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, adequate measures were not taken in terms of the safety and health of bus drivers. But now the conditions are better, the bus driver’s cabin is protected, and the drivers are constantly provided with personal protective equipment, such as a mask or anti-bacterial gel. Generally speaking, most bus drivers take the necessary precautions, but some bus drivers avoid individual measures.
“Sufficient precautions are not taken individually, although everyone is obliged to wear a mask, some drivers themselves do not follow this rule. Under normal conditions, passengers who do not wear masks are forbidden to get on the bus, but passengers react and say, “Why did the other driver let me hop on?” Therefore, it is very important that drivers are an example and take the right precautions. In such a difficult process, everyone is primarily responsible for themselves. One person can infect a hundred people. In public transport, everyone has to obey the rules and wear a mask, a person who does not wear a mask can infect the other 30 people wearing a mask on the bus.”