Bus Driver Sacrifices Duties for Big Texting Emergency

Via Black Star News

Okay, so we know the slow speeds that some buses travel at don't make for the most enthralling ride ever, but when drivers start furtively texting under the wheel—while driving—like high school students under their desks, you know there's a problem. A Brooklyn bus rider nabbed a snapshot of her B47 driver with his Screen of Distraction on Wednesday night. She told NY1, "He never put the phone away to put two hands on the wheel. He drove with one hand on the wheel, while holding the phone in his other hand."

The worried passenger also said, "I was just shocked at the fact that he had his phone out, because I know people who are bus drivers, and I know for a fact that they're not even allowed to have their phone visible while they're on the job, so I had no idea I would actually see him texting while the bus is moving." But apparently, everyone's doing it, despite warnings from the bus drivers' union: 131 violators have been cited so far this year.

The MTA thoroughly disapproves as well: "MTA New York City Transit views this behavior as a serious safety concern and employs several methods aimed at convincing bus operators that we have a zero-tolerance policy...including random observation, targeted safety blitzes and routine follow-ups to complaints from customers." They seem a little more serious about this than the state has been about texting while driving a car, which is only a secondary offense. Even though this could mean a text message breakup with the MTA for the driver, he fortunately hasn't had a chance to go ballistic yet.

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By Rachel Pincus in News on July 30, 2010 3:44 PM

Comments [rss]

mo

this is very dangrous and I am sure it is happenieng down in the subway also . people are so addicted to texting it is everywhere .I have seen cab drivers doing it also while driving .

In businesses everywhere this is going on in certain jobs it can be life threating to do this but I guess people don't even have regard for their own lives.

Son of Spam

TWU president John Samuelsen released a statement:

"This is unacceptable. Something has to be done about this and all careless acts of our members. We will absolutely not allow our drivers to put the fare-paying public in harm's way. We will accept any disciplinary action that the MTA takes on this driver, to enforce the point to our members that this will not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form."

Ahahahahahahahahaha

Okay, no he didn't. He ignored it and ate another half dozen donuts.

Anijake

WTF?? These people work like, what is it 6 hours?? And they can't stay off the phone for that long?? I say FIRE there asses on the first offense. Not only to they have the welfare of the people on the buss in there hands but also people outside the bus.

Like people in the movies, your there for 2 hours!! You stay off the phone for 2 F'n hours?? Something is really wrong with society.

mocanlagunas

What should someone do in this case?

I mean after taking a picture to send to gothamist...

Call the cops?

Tower18

I'm not surprised. I once had a driver on the M101 stop the bus (not at a bus stop), get out, talk on the phone for 2-3 minutes, and then get back in and resume driving.

On one hand, I was happy he didn't have the conversation while driving. But WTF...talk later, get your ass back on the bus!

harrisgraber

Is that bus driver still driving an MTA bus? If so, why?

schadenfreudian mensch

bus drivers' union.

OuHe

If he doesn't want to do his job then GTFO, why the hell would you put people's lives in danger? I doubt the MTA would fire him, citing some union bullshit.

Tony

Citation? Fuck that. Fire him. If he was drinking alcohol he would get arrested and fired. Studies have shown that more auto fatalities occur from texting than DUI. Case closed.

nicemarmot

Gah! Texting while driving isn't quite as bad as driving drunk, but it's equally stupid.

For the millionth time I find myself asking, what the hell is WRONG with people?