Naples – Another episode of violence on public transport in Naples. An Aircampania driver was brutally attacked this morning on Corso Novara, before the departure of the 03 bus, which connects Naples to Caserta via Caivano.
The incident, reported by the Orsa union, shines a spotlight on the growing insecurity faced daily by local public transport operators.
According to the union's reconstruction, the attacker, a still unidentified man, claimed to be traveling without a ticket, claiming he was "required to sign at the Caserta Police Headquarters" as justification for exemption from paying.
When the driver refused , asking him to get out, the man pretended to agree. However, while the driver was busy arranging some things near the driver's seat, the attacker punched him repeatedly in the face and then fled.
The driver was immediately rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment. Following the attack, the bus service was canceled, causing inconvenience and harm to passengers who had purchased valid tickets.
The Carabinieri responded to the scene and launched an investigation. It is hoped that footage from the bus's internal cameras will provide useful information to quickly identify and arrest the perpetrator.
Unions raise alarm: "Enough violence, tougher measures are needed."
Today's incident urgently raises a concern Orsa has already raised on several occasions. As early as January 2024, the union's national secretary had sounded a clear warning regarding the dangerous nature of public transport workers' work and the poor safety of passengers.
"This state of affairs is no longer acceptable," the statement from Orsa reads. "In a country where the mobility of people and the right to decent work are enshrined in the Constitution itself, we cannot remain helpless and indifferent in the face of these criminal acts."
The union calls for decisive action by the Ministry of the Interior and all relevant national institutions, not just local ones, for public safety and order. The goal is to implement severe measures against acts of vandalism suffered by public transport companies and, above all, against attacks on workers and users.
For Orsa, the current reports of disruption to public services, damage, individual assault, or robbery are no longer sufficient. It calls for the introduction of more stringent measures to punish vandalism and "attacks on the safety of transportation and its passengers."
Among the proposals are tougher penalties for those found guilty and the introduction of a sort of ban or warning that would prevent them from using public transport for certain periods of time or in the municipalities where they committed the crime.
Finally, Orsa also appeals to transport companies to invest resources and initiatives to protect passengers, workers, and vehicles. "The time has come to put an end to such criminal behavior," the statement concludes.
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Naples – Yet another day of routine madness and violence on public transportation in the Neapolitan capital. An elderly, slight man…
The situation we're experiencing in Naples is truly worrying. Drivers shouldn't be put in danger while doing their jobs. Serious action is needed to improve safety and protect those who work in public transport.