Dept. of Transportation
Metro Transit Division

King Street Center
201 S Jackson St
Seattle, WA 98104
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The Role of the Driver

Safe Operation of the Bus

The bus driver's primary job is to operate the bus safely. If problems arise on the bus, the bus driver's first priority is to determine if a passenger's safety or security is at stake. The driver will assess the severity of the problem and resources available, and respond accordingly. The bus driver, at his/her discretion, may choose to talk to the passenger, call for assistance, submit a report on the incident at the end of their shift, or take no immediate action. In the case of minor infractions of the code of conduct, Metro's general guideline for the driver would be to continue on the route rather than inconvenience other riders by delaying service.

Photo of driver standing next to a bus.

Peacekeeper, Not Enforcer

The role of the bus driver is that of a peacekeeper, not an enforcer. Enforcement of Metro's Code of Conduct is handled through a network of professionals that can be called upon by the bus driver, if and when needed.