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I was gobbed on loads in the 70s', that was the punk thing,
now I'm a middle-aged git who would deck anybody who spat in my face,
it is the worst insult, the driver has got a pair of balls and the rage took over.

The world is on edge.

- Angry Alan, Liverpool, Liverpool, 27/07/2010 00:19
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good on the driver, spitting is a filthy habit , my dad drives the 149 at stamford hill garage and its my dads mate,he is a fantasic man and my dad would have done the same,my dad and the driver are not aggressive people they are just human beings, the driver could have caught any disease from that low life scum of a man.
The driver is correct to give that so called man a beating!
there is only one victim in this and that is the driver ! x

- Ella Mckenzie, london, 21/02/2010 23:41
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I have read a lot of your comments, and i to think whilst the driver saw red,may be he could have handled the situation better. But spitting is very disgusting and i am sure i would have reacted the same way..Spitting can carry germs and lead to TB, have any one thought of that..I don't think the driver should be sacked as he was provocked...
Good on the driver!!
Please don't sack him, 'What would you do if you were spat at?'

- Janet Francis, London, 21/02/2010 20:55
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good on the driver, promote him to take charge of some of your schools, he might be able to sort some of the rats out,with strong disciplin, instead of softly softly. promote the guy, hes a winner.

- Derek Morgan, tapanui new zealand, 17/02/2010 11:12
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actually Janet: "The Driver had every right not to be abused by a member of the public. He defended himself."

this is the problem, you've filtered the basic facts to support what you want them to be.

he didn't defend himself, he deliberately and carefully exacted revenge. regardless of your sympathies, its ludicrous to even begin to suggest he defended himself.

the bus driver is now in a lot of trouble too, so when he's unemployed I am sure all those cheers and pats on the back will heat and feed his family. This is the problem with mob reactions, all emotion no consequence.

- Scotty, london, 17/02/2010 08:59
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I'm a bus driver. The first thing I do in this situation is close my window to avoid this incident
we cannot reciprocate any verbal abuse as we can be disciplined. is there any point in stopping the rant of a barking dog! There is no point in stressing myself out. This is road rage which could happen to any driver . So the solution for anyone in this situation is to ignore the villain. I bet the driver albeit provoked wished he could rewind the clock and dealed with it another way. On the 149 buses the drivers window is electric. He should have just closed his window when he saw the guy walk round and then not look at him in the eye.

- Qamran, London uk, 17/02/2010 05:10
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Two losers - in every sense of the word!

- Rogan, Irving, 17/02/2010 04:31
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I think this driver would be a suitable candidate for a customer relations job at TFL

- Mr S.Port, London, 17/02/2010 00:54
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I'm with the bus driver - and I admit I never thought I'd be saying THAT!!

- Bob, Oxfrd, England, 16/02/2010 22:19
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You just can't go around beating people up, even when provoked.

Saying that, I am very sympathetic towards the driver and he should definitely not be sacked. However, the pedestrian should be charged with assault for spitting in the first place, thus provoking the driver. If the pedestrian hadn't instigated the incident none of this would have happened in the first place.

- John, London, 16/02/2010 22:00
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Literally can't believe these comments. Yea spitting is absolutely disgusting and I would be completely outraged if someone did that to me, but that doesn't mean the bus driver should be allowed to retaliate using violence, as has been alleged. Awful (alleged) behaviour by both parties, but all this 'good on the bus driver' nonsense is absurd.

- Mat, London, 16/02/2010 21:46
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For all those who complain about the often lousy demeanour of bus drivers - this is why.

To drive a bendy bus through the city is probably stressful enough without having to tally small change AND deal with the public.

On my best day, I'd probably flip if someone spat at me and so I think the driver's reaction is perfectly understandable.

Justice and revenge are not interchangeable however and it might be that both men learned something on this occasion.

- Simon, London,UK, 16/02/2010 20:23
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The pedestrian was just a disgusting individual. He got what he deserved. Give the bus driver a medal.

- Frank, Bournemouth, England, 16/02/2010 19:58
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I have no doubt whatsoever that I would have been cheering at Sid Snot getting his come-uppance.

However, the law has to be above my desire to see this scumbag beaten up. Consider the possibility that Gary the Gobber was punched to the ground, bashed his head on the kerb and died. Clearly that is a dispropotionate punishment and so we really dare not condone this.

- Adam, London, 16/02/2010 18:18
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The quality & behaviour of these new drivers,have much to be desired.
This shoudl nto be tollerated , whatever the pedestrian did. He neglected his duties and responsibilities by leaving the Bus! and the passengers! Should be sacked imediately. Some of these drivers drive badly, too agressive, do nto indicate , whether it is stopping or leavign a supposed bus stop, as many times , they do not pull up ocrrectly to the side of the pavement.
Theri training , is shorter than before they were privatized and we depend on the imigrants who do not know london and its declining culture.

- David Thompson, London, 16/02/2010 17:57
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Spitting at or in someones face is contemptible. Guy spat at me and tried punching me through the window of the Metro Bus I use to drive on route 263 in Barnet, locked his hand in the window till the police arrived to catch him red handed, he later tried to pursue me for assault, ludicrous; I don't advocate violence, but a lot of the public think divers are scum or public enemy no1; you don't need that on top of being blamed for being late, blamed for traffic etc while trying to get them safely from one point to the next; IF HE LOSES HIS JOB, THERE SHOULD BE A BALLOT FOR STRIKE ACTION BY ALL LONDON DRIVERS!!!

- Patrick, London, 16/02/2010 17:39
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On the basis of the story as presented here, both should be prosecuted for assault. Let a jury decide. Shouldn't be hard getting witnesses.

- Tom, London, UK, 16/02/2010 17:17
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"The police are appealing for information" in the area of the UK with the most CCTV cameras.
Plod-get on and do the job.Go and examine the CCTV recordings.It's not that hard-used to be called "police work".

- Alan., Wimbledon, 16/02/2010 17:08
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The Driver had every right not to be abused by a member of the public. He defended himself. Whatever the state of our bus services, the public should make their complaints in better way than that.

- Janet, London, UK, 16/02/2010 16:45
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Well done to the bus driver. Anyone who travels on buses regularly knows the level of rudeness and anti-social behaviour the drivers have to put up with. The bus driver should be promoted and rewarded for taking some action, when in most situations people are too frightened to do anything.

- Chris, Harrow, 16/02/2010 16:28
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Some of these pedestrians do take liberties and walk in the middle of the road. I have sympathy for the driver of bus really. Pedestrians never say thank you when they cross at a zebra either.

- John Clinch, Enfield, 16/02/2010 16:25
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The Spitter got what he deserved.

- Richard Cranium, Pittsburgh, PA USA, 16/02/2010 16:08
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The bus driver definitely has my vote. Good on him.

- P, London, England, 16/02/2010 15:29
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Hopefully the guy who spat at the driver will also be done for assault. Sadly spitting seems to be on the increase both because people can't be bothered to use a tissue and also as a means of assault. It is a filthy habit that spreads diseases/creates further dirty on our streets and the people who spit really should be punished (some may say such a 'minor' offence but if you don't stop the rot at the most basic level then there is no hope).

- Andy, london, 16/02/2010 15:20
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Not a big fan of buses or bus drivers but good on him I say for retaliating.

- Nav, Barking, England, 16/02/2010 15:15
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Let's hope the bus company give this driver the same sympathy they did the driver who stopped to pray.

- Mark, London, 16/02/2010 15:11
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James Haddon would appear to be as obscene as his idol. Presumably he also agrees with her other wonderful insights, that community is dead, northerns shouldn't have the right to work and that allowing the financial markets to self-regulate is a sure winner.

My stepfather was a bus driver and is an exceptionally decent man and the abuse he suffered while driving his bus shames Britain to the core. That said, Scotty's right. No one wins.

- Simon, ldn, 16/02/2010 14:56
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Good for the bus driver the spitter will think twice next time To James Haddon (previous post), writing that anyone taking a bus at 30 represents failure. Wow,You sound like a real nice sort and I bet you are one of life's winners,right!

- Gary, London, 16/02/2010 14:54
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A few years ago this kind of incident wouldnt have reached the local papers nevermind the nationals,the hippy got his just deserts.....reinstate the driver.

- Jacob, Stalinist Southern England, 16/02/2010 14:48
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Spot on James Haddon, London. Never try to impress a woman on a bus. If you're on a bus, you're not impressive!

- Haskey, London SE1, 16/02/2010 14:46
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Give the driver a £5000 reward - throw the spitting-hippy in the slammer.

- Anglo, Sussex UK, 16/02/2010 14:41
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Scotty, london is right.
"2 losers, no winner"...except perhaps lawyers.
Where I work we were told by a police officer that if someone hits you and then walks away, if you then go after them and hit them you can also be charged with assault. It sounds stupid and most police officers may not agree with it, but this is the way that the law sees it.
Having said that I'm on the side of the bus driver
Lets hope he dosn't get the sack for this...But knowing these private bus operating companies, I would say it is a foregone conclusion. They don't have a Bob Crow to help them.

- Mark H, London England, 16/02/2010 14:26
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I was threatened with all sorts from one driver, because I asked him why he had driven part the stop ( it was not a request stop), and we caught up with him when the traffic lights went to red a few yards down the road. He spent the about 5 mins shouting at me to Shut Up and Did I want to get off the bus, I did not swear at him at all all I shouted back repeatedly was that, I just wanted him to do his job. I asked him for his number, which he refused to give me.

- Ying-Hui, London, 16/02/2010 14:16
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He couldnt very well ignore the behaviour. But had to stop the bus and remonstrate with the offender. The offender should be banned from all public transport for 5 years. Are we in for a spate of 'bus tries' Last week it was a driver stopping his bus to get his prayer mat out.

- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 16/02/2010 14:12
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I really hope this bus driver keeps his job. I drive trains and every day you see underclass scum spitting as a matter of course. People who work in offices would be - quite rightly - outraged and disgusted if someone came up and gobbed over them but people who work with the public have it all the time.

- Patrick, richmond, surrey, 16/02/2010 14:12
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Good drills by the bus driver - it was him that was assaulted first.

- Carl, London, 16/02/2010 14:06
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James Haddon, London - "I'm with Margaret Thatcher on this one; any man over 30 who still has to get the bus should consider himself a FAILURE" - Why you being such a idiot James? Some people who commute to London on a train may still have to take a bus to complete their journey. You'd like everyone who uses a bus to use a car instead? That would help all the congestion wouldn't it? Real stupid statement James.

- Congestion, London, 16/02/2010 13:59
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If someone spat in my face I'd do the same. Dirty spitting scum.

- Dont Spit, London, 16/02/2010 13:49
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Sack him for leaving his place of work.

- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 16/02/2010 13:41
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i am a former bus driver in London all i can say is WOW hands up to the driver we've had to put up with this for so many years of passengers Gobbing at Drivers, I would do the same, that was nasty of the person to spit at the driver, he could have a caught a nasty infection from that person, OMG wow.

- Patrick, Ilford, 16/02/2010 13:39
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I'm with Margaret Thatcher on this one; any man over 30 who still has to get the bus should consider himself a FAILURE

- James Haddon, London, 16/02/2010 13:32
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ah look you can't do what the victim did, and he probably should charged for his part.

you also can't do what the driver did, it was pre-meditated enough to stop the bus, get out of the cab, leave the bus, walk up to the pedestrian and then have a go.

the driver must, and will, be sacked. that's still thuggery, albeit under some provocation.
The victim should also be charged by the police.

2 losers, no winner.

- Scotty, london, 16/02/2010 13:28
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I support the driver totally, a lot of scum use the buses in London, many travelling at everyone elses expense. I have seen 'passengers' shout abuse many times when drivers have had the audacity to tell them to pay. I forgive drivers their temper when faced with such pressures. As people have said, the dreg who spat no doubt assumed the driver would do nothing. And what would have been an appropriate response? Pointlessly call the Police? Shout after him? Assault led to counter assault and that is human nature.

- Dan, London, 16/02/2010 13:15
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Spitting is an assault, pure and simple. It's also vile and degrading to both parties. It seems that the driver took it rather too far, but surely we all have the right to go about our work without having pond life like this spitting in our faces and everybody has a breaking point. I was a London bus driver for several years and I can tell you that this is not at all unusual, nor is people urinating on the top deck and the driver having this dripping into their cab below. Actually, most bus drivers now carry 'spit kits', so DNA can be extracted and prosecutions made. Mike, London, a bit of a generalisation, don't you think? Go and do a few shifts on the buses and see how you cope, you poor little flower.

- Ruth, Hampton, 16/02/2010 13:09
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I'm not the biggest fan of London bus drivers, many of whom appear rude and inconsiderate. However, although I suppose we should not condone violence, it seems to me me the spitter got what he deserved. It's a disgusting anntoscial habit even when not directed at an individual.

Hopefully in this instance the perpetrator has been taught a lesson.

- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 16/02/2010 12:58
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Bus drivers have to put up with so much aggression from low lifes that this was probably the last straw.

- Mandy, Milton Keynes, 16/02/2010 12:58
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Spitting is horrible and can spread disease, and is a form of assault, an eye for an eye in this case in my opinion.

- Smithfields, Kent, 16/02/2010 12:57
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If I was working and someone spat at me, I would hit them. Good on the driver. Spiting in someones face is disgusting.

- Dal, Bromley, 16/02/2010 12:49
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Gobbing is so degrading. i think he would of been in his rights to run him over in his bus.......

- Jonny, London, 16/02/2010 12:48
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I'm with the bus driver.
Gob on me, especially when I'm trying to work, and you'll get a slap.

- Anthony, Esher, Surrey, 16/02/2010 12:45
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Whilst totally disgusting behaviour to spit at someone I am not surprised in the least by the driver's reaction. London bus drivers are the rudest arrogant people I have ever come across. I accept it must be quite stressful sometimes and they must have to deal with difficult people but they treat all their passengers like scum. I stopped using buses long ago because of them.

- Mike, London, 16/02/2010 12:44
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I would back the bus driver he was well within his rights to retaliate- spitting is a form of attack. I wish the bus driver well

- Peter Webster, Moenchengladbach, Germany, 16/02/2010 12:43
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Bus drivers take loads of crap off the public and although I don't condone violence, spitting is absolutely foul and as the poster says below, saliva can contain serious diseases - the spit might have gone in his eye which could put him at risk of Hepatitis. I would have gone mad as well and I'm a 5ft 7 and a half stone woman.

- Tam, London, 16/02/2010 12:35
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I would back the Bus Driver up over this, spitting is worse than a punch and is regarded as an assualt, I trust transport bosses will support the driver and prosecute the gobber, when he has recovered from his hopefully very painful injuries that is.

- John Charles Thomas, London England, 16/02/2010 12:27
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A few years back I was driving a London bus and often would be spat at by passengers - one day a young passengers got on my bus and tried to get on without showing a pass, when I asked to see his pass he started kicking my driver door and punching my screen and then started spitting at me, that was it, I snapped and chased the guy up the street but he was to fast, I finished my journey and took the bus back to the garage and resigned on the spot.

- David, Abbey Wood SE2, 16/02/2010 12:25
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Bet the same 'shocked' passengers were laughing when the hippy spat at the driver!

Good on the driver - hippy deserved it!

Don't spit if you don't want to get hit

- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 16/02/2010 12:24
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As an ex bus driver myself I've suffered this degrading action many times without provocation. People who spit on public facing employees don't expect them to react but I bet this guy got a shock. Kudos to the bus driver!!

- Leon, London, 16/02/2010 12:23
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Well done the bus driver, shame on whoever intervened.

The man who spat has now learnt a very valuable lesson in life, and I doubt he will do it again.

Spit can also contain the Hepatitis and TB virus's in it.

Bus driver.........WELL DONE MATE

- P Staker, London, 16/02/2010 12:22
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"So its expected, especially the way they drive and treat passengers."

Come on Mike....they dont deserve to get spat in the face...no one does. So whilst I wouldnt advocate violence I'd say good on the driver. I,m pretty certain I'd react the same way...unless he was bigger than me LOL

- Andy G, Bahrain, 16/02/2010 12:20
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Shouldn't spit at people. That person got what he deserved. Why are other people so shocked. Other people have no manners themselves.More people should stand up for themselves.

- Imran Khan, London, UK, 16/02/2010 12:10
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I'm with the bus driver on this, too much of this I can do wahat I like behaviour going on, any body with similar ideas better watch out, filthy scum!

- Dave, Totland Bay, 16/02/2010 12:05
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...not condoning the bus drivers actions BUT at least one more scumbag has discovered the meaning of the word CONSEQUENSES (something the courts seem to have removed from their dictionary)

- Cliffttop, london, 16/02/2010 12:05
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Sorry, my sympathies at this stage are with the bus driver, although he did take it too far. I think bus driving must be one of the most stressful jobs around and my small observation of bus passengers is that they seem an unappreciative lot. Roll on the time when we have robot bus drivers, who hopefully, will not feel anger, depression, fear or be uset or react to those emotions or to provocation. By the way, I think spitting should be made illegal, it is not only a sign of huge disrespect, it is unhygienic and visually horrid.

- Helen, norwich, 16/02/2010 12:03
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If you go around spitting at people you must accept the consequences!

- Jeff, New Cross, 16/02/2010 11:57
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Sounds like the driver lost it after being spat at. Bus drivers put up with all sorts of abuse on a daily basis. Whilst not condoning what he did, other people should behave themselves too. Being spat at is just disgusting.

- Sally, hertford UK, 16/02/2010 11:54
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Well that's one nasty individual that may well think twice before spitting at someone else in the future. As for your comments Mike, I can't think of anything more stressful than driving a modern bus around London in today's traffic conditions and with many of today's ignorant, uncivilized populace. Poor old Bus Driver, nicked, and definitley charged/cautioned. Either way, a moment of madness, caused by someone else and his life is changed forever.

- Ranter, Maidstone, UK, 16/02/2010 11:52
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I think spitting at someone is the most digusting, offensive thing ever and I for one don't blame the bus driver for hitting out. How dare that scumbag think he has the right to spit in someone's face and not expect retaliation of some sort. I hope the driver doesn't lose his job over this.

- Kaye, London, 16/02/2010 11:48
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If you spit at someone's face, don't be surprised if they hit you. I am surprised to read that onlookers were surprised by the drivers reaction. Ask yourself the question, what would you or most other people have done in the same situation. The long haired hippy has no doubt done the same many times over and got away with it but this time he was taught a lesson. Maybe the hippy will now reframe from spitting at people when he can't get his own way. Reinstate the driver.

- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark, 16/02/2010 11:47
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Not exactly news, to those who take the bus everyday. So its expected, especially the way they drive and treat passengers.

- Mike, London, 16/02/2010 11:32
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