Should cell phones for public transit drivers be banned?

[gsdx]

It's becoming more and more common where public transit and transport drivers drivers are causing accidents because they were distracted by talking on a cell phone, texting, sending Emails, reading Emails, etc.

Is there really a need for a personal cell phone in a city bus or on a subway or a Greyhound? Should personal cell phones (and other such items) be banned?

 

[pat grimshaw]

Most definitely. Get your legislature to act now.
Don't wait until you are smashed to the ground.

 

[BrownBoi89]

No one should be talking on the phone, texting, etc. while driving, especially those whose job requires them to drive people somewhere. They are responsible for so many lives and they should not call/text with that in mind.

 

[swerve]

OF COURSE -- well, the USE of them WHILE DRIVING a bus should DEFINITELY be banned...

I know that in Portland it is agains the rules (because Nineofclubs told me ) for drivers to talk on the phone while driving the bus...

But, SADLY, as YOU have noticed -- there seems to STILL be QUITE A FEW of them that disregard this rule...

They shouldn't be COMPLETELY banned -- because the drivers get breaks during the day and, you know, should be able to use them while on break...

 

[AbnormalDann]

A neighbor of mine died on a SMART bus here in Detroit because the driver was on her phone and didn't bother to put her in her seat belt, so when the bus came to a halt she fell out of her seat and into a pole a few feet from her seat.

Her husband has been in a battle with them since her death 2 years ago, and they refuse to fire the driver who has been involved in her fair share of accidents.

Sorry for going off, but my opinion is definitely they should not be allowed on cellphones, I'd even like for them to have cameras on the bus or something that monitors if they're using them.

 

[pat grimshaw]

… -- there seems to STILL be QUITE A FEW of them that disregard this rule...…

I reckon 80% of drivers are sufficiently macho and selfish as to disregard this rule

 

[LilBit]

Besides the fact that it's dangerous for passengers and drivers of other vehicles, the drivers shouldn't be on the phone while they're working. Office workers aren't allowed to make personal calls during business hours, so why should transit drivers be allowed to?

 

[honooryuu]

absolutely. i dont see why they get any special treatment. it is already illegal in delaware to text while driving or holding the handset to their head to talk. drivers are required to use a bluetooth or similar headset device. why shouldnt this extend to ALL drivers, and not just personal vehicle drivers?

 

[levenshulme31]

It's a no-brainer that the use of phones while driving should be forbidden (It's probably more dangerous than driving after a few drinks). Even moreso when you are driving a 30+ ton bus with passengers on it.

I have no objection to drivers having their phones with them for use on breaks or in emergencies but using them while driving should be a cause for dismissal. End of.

 

[NineOfClubs]

Speaking as a transit driver.

Absolutely ALL cell phones of transit drivers should be turned OFF while their buses are in service!

I know mine is...

 

[gsdx]

It's a no-brainer that the use of phones while driving should be forbidden (It's probably more dangerous than driving after a few drinks).

That has been proved by numerous independent studies. Even Mythbusters found it to be true.

It's illegal throughout Ontario now.

 

[birddog7]

Cell phones should be banned from the face of the earth!