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Bus driver's cellphone use under fire

'Against company policy': Greyhound; 'It was giving me a heart attack': passenger

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 09/22/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

It's against the law in Manitoba to use a hand-held cellphone while driving -- even when you're driving a Greyhound bus.

Sheri Huxley said she was one of about 15 passengers on a Greyhound bus from Winnipeg to Roblin on Sept. 8, when the bus driver held his cellphone to his ear three different times and chatted.

"It was personal stuff," said Huxley, noting she had a ringside seat to the conversations sitting in the row behind him.

"He had the phone in a strap thing at his side and he would pull it out, use it, and then fidget to put it away... tucked into the second seat immediately behind the driver I felt it necessary to scout out any wildlife or other such distractions because, heavens, our driver already had more than one.

"It was giving me a heart attack. I felt like smacking him when I got off the bus."

The provincial government made it illegal to use a hand-held cellphone or smartphone while operating a vehicle on July 15, 2010.

The law includes talking, texting and emailing. It does permit hands-free cellphone devices that use voice or one-touch commands. If caught, drivers can be fined $200.

The province does allow hand-held phones to be used in the event of an emergency to call fire, police or ambulances.

Huxley, who sent a complaint to Greyhound about the incident, said the bus pulled out of Winnipeg at about 8 p.m.

She said the first two calls lasted about 10 minutes.

"I can't remember what was said, but he appeared to be talking to a family member and it wasn't an emergency," she said.

"I do recall thinking, 'You couldn't take care of that when you stopped?' "

Greyhound spokesman Tim Stokes said no Greyhound employee is permitted to operate a bus while using a cellphone, no matter where the bus is travelling

"This is against company policy."

Stokes said penalties against a driver can include "everything up to termination."

He said the company will investigate once they receive a complaint.

Liz Peters, a CAA Manitoba spokeswoman, said it's just one more example that shows Manitobans are ignoring the cellphone law that took effect more than two years ago.

"Everybody sees everybody doing it, but then they admit they do it themselves," Peters said of hand-held cellphone use while driving. "We're contemplating asking the government to put demerits with the law.

"If $200 won't do it, maybe being hit by your insurance will."

She said all CAA employees -- including tow-truck drivers -- are told the company has a zero-tolerance policy against hand-held cellphone use while driving.

Peters said it is especially bad for a bus driver to have used their cellphone while rolling down the highway.

"This is a person driving other people and putting them all at risk," she said.

"The roads are definitely less safe since we had this temptation."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 22, 2012 A4

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