Can you turn your cell phone off?
By Hystmill on February 18, 2006 - 11:03pm
Over your lunch break you read the news – blaring headlines – driving while using a cell phone is dangerous. Canada is one of the few countries in the civilized world that does not have a ban on driving while using a cell phone. You see local police doing stop checks when they see drivers talking on the phone while driving. But – the next day – you get on your local bus – and what do you witness? Take a wild guess, you know what I mean – no – it’s not the woman who is doing her banking over the phone on the Skytrain or the guy yakking to his buddy about how he partied all night and missed work that day – no – it is the BUS DRIVER. Driving a bus the size of a Canadian sized football field – with 100 passengers crammed in their like Pringles in a tube can – and he or she is talking about bringing home milk and bread.
Isn’t it time we banned cell phone use and driving, particularly if you are responsible for driving others? Cab drivers are ‘guilty’ of this as well – heh –are they not preoccupied already looking for the address? Don’t they have enough on their mind?
Canadians need to get smart – or rather drive smart. If it rings in your car – can you resist the urge to answer while maneuvering the corner and balancing your Starbucks? Do yourself a favour and try to resist that urge to speed dial, sip, and make plans while driving. Bus drivers and cab drivers we appreciate you work in a world where violence is unfortunately often a given – but if it isn’t an emergency – please consider turn off your cell phone while driving.
Can you?
I've been on a bus or two that had Translink drivers talking on their cell phones while driving with a dozen or so passengers, and I had half a mind to note the bus number (that's the number in the top right at the front of inside of the bus) and the time, so that I could call Translink and complain. Never got around to doing that (didn't have a pen or some other lame excuse), but that's what you'd do, since at least that way they can tell who the driver was and ask whether the phone call was important enough to risk losing concentration with paying customers on board.
I'm pretty sure Translink drivers are not allowed to be operating their cellphones while driving a passenger bus. ...Besides, that sounds pretty dangerous. Sheesh.
NetChick
Having witnessed several bus drivers (and cab drivers) on cell phones, I have called Translink, given them the number of the vehicle and they say 'well they are not supposed to talk on them, only in the event of an emergency'...it appears many Translink drivers do not heed to this rule of their employment. I encourage you to contact Translink with the number of the bus if it is very apparent they are not handling an emergency situation on the call. My friend recently went from North Road to Coquitlam Centre on a bus - the driver talked on his cell phone the entire time. Clearly, they were in no danger.