Comments on: Why Johnny’s Bus Driver Can’t Use the Phone

By: Rich in CO

Rich in CO — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:55:05 +0000

Having been Jonny’s bus driver I know that some of the rules for bus drivers are about setting good examples rather than pure rational safety benefit. For example, in Colorado, school bus drivers are also prohibited from eating, drinking anything or smoking while operating the bus. I don’t smoke, but I don’t see smoking a cigarette as a highly distracting activity and I doubt that there was ever a fatality in a school bus tied to the driver smoking while driving. I wouldn’t consider using my cell phone to talk (let alone text) while carrying Jonny and his 83 schoolmates, but I have been known to talk on the phone (and to eat and drink, gasp!) while drving my own car. (Possibly even with my own kids aboard).

If you, as a texting driver, collide with a BlueBird, you will be much more likely to be hurt than Johnny. If Johnny’s bus driver collides with a car the damage will be mostly to the car and its occupants, but if he collides with something really solid then Johnny might get hurt. Preventing Johnny’s driver from texting might be about setting a good example and protecting the folks outside the bus.

By: Michiel

Michiel — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:27:05 +0000

I think the safety issue should be more more important in this case than private vs public space. (Cars are indeed driving in public space anyway, so I don’t understand this discussing from a European point of view.) Why accepting severly constraining legislation addressing terrorist attacks, where by far fewer casualties occur than in traffic!?

By: David Veatch

David Veatch — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:51:58 +0000

I can’t help but think it ties into the territorial sense we have when in our own vehicles, in spite of the fact that we’re still in a public space. I was reminded of this phenomenon watching an old episode of The Office when one of the characters said “My car, my rules” when admonished for littering out her car window. It’s funny b/c it’s true.

It’s easier to legislate school buses b/c they aren’t considered private property, while a personal vehicle is, even when on public roads.

In the end, it’s illogical to ban texting by school bus drivers, while allowing the same for any other driver. We’re all out there together, after all.