Two TTC Drivers Allegedly Caught Texting

There are fresh allegations of inappropriate conduct by TTC workers including two separate photos of bus drivers apparently texting while behind the wheel.

On Friday, the Toronto Sun ran a photo on its front page of a TTC driver typing on a cellphone.

Rider Mike Schmitz took the photo on the 165 Weston bus on Wednesday afternoon.

Schmitz told CityNews Friday that the bus had about 30 people on it, and the driver was fixated on his phone, instead of the road.

“The whole trip he was just texting away,” he said.  “…like it was no big deal.”

“The more I thought about it, wait a sec, it’s not cool, it’s dangerous.”

The TTC responded, saying they have identified one of the drivers and discipline will be meted out. They are trying to identify the second driver.

“We strictly forbid the use of cell phones, whether it’s talking or texting, while operating any TTC vehicle,” spokesman Brad Ross told CityNews. 

“We’re taking it very seriously and we’re going to take appropriate action to deal with this employee,” he added.

The bus driver could face dismissal, but that hasn’t been decided yet, he added.

“It could be dismissal but I don’t want to presuppose the outcome of the process.”

Meanwhile, CityNews viewer Alexia Schell sent in another image of a driver appearing to use his Blackberry while operating the 54 Lawrence bus. That photo was taken on Tuesday.

She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw her driver texting throughout the packed 20-minute ride earlier this week.  

“You’re putting everybody’s lives at risk, and everybody knows, this is 2011 now, everybody knows you are not supposed to text and drive, it’s dangerous,” she said.

 

Image credit: Alexia Schell

These photos are the latest in a string of black eyes for the TTC. Last year, a bus driver was suspended after taking an unscheduled coffee break as passengers waited on board.

Another TTC driver was suspended following an impaired driving allegation.

Then, a fare collector was spotted sleeping on the job at subway station. He had a medical condition and later died, but many riders questioned why he was even on the job at all.

Not only does the Toronto Transit Commission have its own policy against distracted driving, there’s a provincial law banning the practice that has been in place for over a year.

Bill 118, Ontario’s attempt to stop motorists from using hand-held communication and entertainment devices, officially took effect on Oct. 26, 2009. That was followed by a three-month grace period, where drivers were let off with a warning.

Now, those caught behind the wheel can now face a $155 fine. If the motorist decides to fight the ticket, a judge has the discretion to reduce it down to as low as $60 or jack the fine up to $500. An officer can also hand out three demerit points, if they think it’s warranted.

911 calls are an exception.

It’s also illegal for drivers to look at display screens, such as laptops, MP3 players, or DVD players, that are unrelated to driving.

Motorists charged with the additional offence of distracted driving could be handed six demerit points.

According to the Ontario transportation ministry, driving while using either a hand-held or hands-free device increases your chances of being involved in a collision by four times. If possible, officials urge motorists to turn off their cellphones while driving.

The hands-free devices that are permitted under Bill 118 include:

• cellphone with an earpiece or headset using voice dialing, or plugged into the vehicle’s sound system
• a global positioning system (GPS) device that is properly secured to the dashboard or another accessible place in the vehicle
• a portable audio player that has been plugged into the vehicle’s sound system