Public restrooms – whether they are located in a facility such as a school, medical center or a sports stadium – are vulnerable to people who wish to express their feelings through physical violence.
Users are recognizing that kind of abuse is on the rise, according to a recent survey from GP PRO. The survey revealed that nearly half of the respondents believe that Americans behave worse in public now than they did in the 2-3 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Much of the violence that respondents have witnessed has occurred in public restrooms. The survey says that of the people who have witnessed damage to property recently, 70 percent of them saw it take place in a public restroom. GP PRO reported that data from its customers have reported a 40 percent rise in “dispenser abuse” in 2022.
Reasons for the rise in public displays of violence include political differences, negative influence of social media, and rising cost of items such as groceries and gas.
Dave Lubach is executive editor of the facilities market.
