Yesterday we briefly mentioned some new figures from Metro showing a big increase in assaults on Metrobus drivers. The number of assaults has risen from 36 in 2002 to 84 in 2007. Of the assaults last year, 56 were in the District, 21 were in Maryland and seven were in Virginia.

“The assaults range from being spit on, to hit with sticks, bricks, poles, open hands, guns and knives to fondling and attempting to undress an operator,” said Milo
Victoria, Metro Assistant General Manager of Bus Operations, in a statement. “Often times, customers are angry about something, and they take it out on the driver.”

So Metro has just released this photo of a clear plastic shield they will begin testing on six buses later this month. The shields will be installed between where the operator sits and the fare boxes. Other transit agencies in Los Angeles and Chicago are also testing the separation devices.

What do you think? We’re certainly all for bus drivers being safer, but it’s kind of sad that it might come to liquor store-style plexiglass partitions. A Metro Transit Police spokesperson also said they are deploying more undercover and uniformed officers to patrol Metrobuses.