Luxembourg authorities are preparing a law against verbal abuse on public transport

The Luxembourg government has introduced a bill aimed at combating the rise in verbal aggression on public transport. According to official statistics, the number of physical attacks remains relatively stable, while incidents of insults and verbal threats continue to rise, primarily against drivers.

On the capital's bus network (AVL), the vast majority of incidents are related to verbal aggression. In 2025, there were 163 cases of aggressive behaviour towards drivers, of which 152 were verbal insults. City councillor Patrick Goldschmidt noted that this amounts to less than one incident per day for the entire fleet, but the problem requires a systematic response.

He pointed out that the tender documentation for transport operators places particular emphasis on staff training, including courses on conflict management. Subcontractors are required to report all incidents, and, according to Goldschmidt, they do so quite thoroughly. In addition, all AVL buses are equipped with panic buttons: when pressed, the police or municipal services usually arrive at the scene within two to three minutes.

The issue of installing protective cabins for drivers is causing some controversy. The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Luxembourg (Onofhängege Gewerkschaftsbond Lëtzebuerg, OGBL) insists on their introduction to protect against physical violence and spitting. The capital's authorities consider this measure excessive for urban routes, pointing out that such cabins are more suitable for rural lines with long intervals between stops. At the same time, contracts on the national RGTR bus network already stipulate that all new buses must be equipped with either a cabin or a protective screen. According to the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, as of January, about 59% of RGTR routes were operating with some form of driver protection, although it is not always technically possible to install screens on older models.

Security is also being stepped up on the tram network. Since August, employees of an external security company have been working on LuxTram routes, standing guard at both terminal stops and inside the trams. LuxTram Director Helge Dorstewitz said that the measure does not eliminate all manifestations of aggression, but overall allows the company to feel "sufficiently well prepared." No significant changes to the strategy are planned yet, although the possibility of targeted security enhancements is not ruled out.

The response to this problem was Bill No. 8335 from the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works. The document provides for the creation of national rules of conduct on public transport and, for the first time, introduces a unified catalogue of violations with clearly defined fines. A system of checks, immediate fines and fixed penalties is planned so that passengers clearly understand what behaviour is acceptable and what is not. The authorities hope that transparent rules and a unified mechanism for punishment will reduce the level of aggression and increase the safety of transport workers throughout the country.