Waylon Johnston
Tourist recounts bus ordeal
A court yesterday heard how a Dutch woman fell off the bus she was on and was seriously injured after the driver did not give her enough time to alight.
Maria Bank was testifying in the compilation of evidence against bus driver Anthony Xerri, 64, from Fgura, who is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring the woman, driving his bus dangerously and damaging her property.
Magistrate Antonio Mizzi heard that Ms Bank was on a bus on her way to the Tarxien Temples with her husband when the incident took place on Tuesday.
Taking the witness stand, Ms Bank said she had boarded the bus in Valletta and noticed the driver being hostile to a group of German tourists. "He jumped out of his seat and shouted at them that only half the group could get on as it was full up," she said, adding that she was scared as she had never experienced such a bus driver before.
Ms Bank said that on the way to Tarxien they had to take a detour because there was an accident. She asked a Maltese woman where to stop. "The woman told us to get off at the next bus stop and take another bus in the opposite direction because the driver had driven well away from the temples."
Ms Bank said that her husband then rang the bell and the bus swerved to the kerb and stopped. Her husband alighted and made a "thank you gesture" to the driver. As she was getting off the bus, the driver stepped on the accelerator causing her to fall and hit the pavement. "I had to have nine stitches to my face because my glasses cut my brow so deeply," she said.
Bursting into tears as she recounted her ordeal, Ms Bank continued: "I was so scared, fearful that we were going to have an accident... Our holiday was ruined. Bus drivers never treat customers like that in our country."
The case continues.
Police Inspector Priscilla Caruana prosecuted. Lawyer Nicole Vella was defence counsel.
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7 Comments
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Chris Borg
Sep 18th 2008, 22:34
Umbasta all that talk after the bus strike. Vera the gov. is all talk no action.
Charles Sammut
Sep 18th 2008, 17:00
Who is in charge here? I would sue the driver; the bus company and the Transit Authority. I know it will be tough collecting in Malta. Maniacs belong in an institution and not driving buses.
Antoine Vella (Balzan)
Sep 18th 2008, 16:39
No amount of retraining and educational courses (they have been tried) will change the attitude of some drivers. Extreme bad manners, bordering on violence in some cases, are part of their personality and they would need psychological counselling to calm down and modify their behaviour.
The public transport sector has to get rid of such people and anyone guilty of anti-social conduct should lose their license permanently and look for a different job.
Ingrid Jones-cameron
Sep 18th 2008, 14:42
wardens and civilian mepa agents fine citizens for merely throwing a cig butt in the street but no law enforcement is anywhere visible when it comes to these uncivilized bus drivers. I recall once reporting a driver for being uncout and swearing. The policemanm asked me if I am ready to testify in court. It was one good way of scaring me away from reporting the driver as I had no intention of loosing a day of my holiday, exposing my identity in court for a report...
C J Allen
Sep 18th 2008, 14:34
Mrs Bank said that bus drivers never treat people like that in her country (the Netherlands).
I've lived in ten countries and travelled in forty-three, and have never come across drivers like those in Malta. Most are not as bad as they are made out to be, but a small number of ill-mannered louts, seemingly resentful of their passengers - the people whose fares put food on their tables! - get all the publicity, and all bus drivers are then tarred with the same brush.
Charles Micallef
Sep 18th 2008, 12:52
Two incidents in today's issue related deranged bus drivers, this particular one and another one printed in a letter to the Editor.
This is getting to be a common occurence and is now getting out of hand with very little or no success registered in proper enforcement.
When are the authorities addressing this very serious problem?
C.A. Prina
Sep 18th 2008, 12:33
I'm afraid many of your bus drivers appear as thugs.They look dreadful ,drive like maniacs,short change tourists and are generally disagreeable. They are in complete contrast to the vast majority of the Maltese people and are very damaging to tourism. If retrained or better controlled they could be first line ambassadors and be enormously beneficial to the image of Malta.