Bus Driver Caught Talking On Cell Phone During His Route
Posted March 29, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The shot in the picture is truly worth a thousand words. And most of them would be angry ones.
It shows a man behind the wheel talking animatedly on his cell phone, making a personal call.
It’s the kind of thing you see in the city every single day.
But this time it’s different. Because this guy is yakking on his mobile device while driving a public transit bus in Whitby.
He’s navigating the streets while keeping just one hand on the wheel.
And his actions are putting everyone on board and all those coming near him into potential danger.
A shocked and startled passenger named Steven Cuddy took the incriminating photos using his cell phone camera. He claims the driver’s conversation lasted up to half an hour. And the man never stopped talking.
Those who live in Whitby are appalled when they see the evidence.
“On his cell phone?” a wide-eyed resident asks. “It’s dangerous for passengers.”
The driver’s boss at Durham Transit is equally outraged.
“It’s discipline – instantly, ” relates Ted Galinis. “That’s against our policy.”
That policy clearly restricts the use of the devices at all times during the operation of a transit vehicle and restricts personal calls to breaks.
Galinis wants the public to let them know if they see these kinds of violations.
“This is dangerous,” he responds. “This is how you get into accidents. I’ve got people on board, I got liabilities. If the customers call us, we’ll take care of it.”
But taking care of it in this case will be a lot harder than you think.
No one knows the identity of the driver who violated the rules. They’re hoping someone will recognize him and call Durham Transit with a name.
