As safety concerns escalate, King County Metro is responding with the installation of new barriers to protect bus drivers from violent incidents, a move prompted by a series of driver assaults, including the tragic stabbing death of driver Shawn Yim in December, as reported by KING5.
Indeed, footage obtained by KIRO 7 reveals the risky situations drivers face—such as a passenger dodging a plexiglass shield and prompting the driver to leap away or another launching an unprovoked attack by pushing the plexiglass aside to strike the driver; these episodes underscore the necessity for the upgrades as the King County Prosecutor’s Office's Casey McNerthney observes "This unfortunately is not a one-off. We see driver assaults far too frequently."
In response to the increasing violence, a new partition prototype made of metal and tempered glass has been demonstrated. This prototype is significantly stronger than the original sneeze guards from the pandemic era, suggesting a major improvement in drivers' safety measures, as KOMO News detailed.
In terms of financial implications, assaults on bus drivers have not only resulted in physical and emotional repercussions but also monetary costs, as King County Metro disbursed over $337,000 in 2023. More than $304,000 in 2024 for injury claims, a burden borne by the county since it's self-insured.
