In this way, passengers can get back into the front of the bus, which should ensure that there is less traffic. The buses of the Syntus company, which are active in the Soest region, will be equipped with cough screens for drivers from October. According to the Soestercourant, the percentage of fare dodgers has skyrocketed. Since the outbreak of the corona crisis in March, the front doors of the buses have remained closed to protect the driver. The umbrella organization OVNL wants to do something about this and Keolis Nederland, the parent company of Syntus, is enthusiastic.

“Placing the plastic cough screens at our drivers, in combination with opening all doors in the opportunity again, reduces the risk of exposure to possible virus particles, compared to the current situation with the closed front door,” says communications advisor Lotte Hendriksen from Keolis Netherlands.

According to the newspaper is the idea that drivers allow their buses to vent at every stop by opening all doors. The screens should also be disinfected regularly to prevent indirect transmission of the corona virus by touching the screen. The problem of fare dodging is a nationwide problem that causes transport companies to lose a lot of income. 

The costs of equipping the bus with a cough screen for the driver are estimated at around EUR 1.000. According to Syntus, bus transport in this way returns to the 'old' situation, before corona was there. However, the mouth masks in the bus remain mandatory.

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