Would you have made a complaint???

January

Hi all,
When I got on the bus today, the driver was talking on his mobile phone, two stops later he was still on the phone, so I rang the depot (have number in my phone in case a bus is late...), gave the man on the phone all the details (bus number, what time it left at, where it was at the time etc...) and he said he'd get onto him about it.

A couple of stops later he STILL wasn't off his phone and no one had gotten in touch with him via the intercom/walkie talkie thing... so I got off the bus (I wouldn't sit in a car with someone on the phone, I wouldn't drive a car on the phone and I had my six month old baby with me, I didn't feel safe.). When I got off the bus, I rang the depot again and the guy on the phone said that the inspector in the city centre was going to talk to the guy when he got in there.

Would you have done the same thing??

Gruffalo

Fair play to you. I would probably have called the Gardaí.

Buffman

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Would you have done the same thing??

Personally it depends, but good on ya for doing it.
If his driving was poor, I would call the Gardai.
Considering you can get a cheap bluetooth headset there is no excuse.

SickCert

Say it to the driver on the bus, i would be very anti-mobile. I have the bluetooth (which DB dont allow) BUT my family know unless they have lost a limb its text messages only which i can check at a later stage.

I pulled up a female garda yesterday on the Cherrywood bridge for using her phone, opened the windows and said 'how many points for that?',,,'Official business' was the reply, then she jumped the red light!

The mobile phone law is abused by too many and i dont like it either.

rednik

Why risk your job over a phone call. There are too many smug drivers on the road who just don't give a damn about anybody else, not just DB but all drivers. The Gardai don't exactly come out as shining examples either.

Buffman

SickCert wrote: »

I pulled up a female garda yesterday on the Cherrywood bridge for using her phone, opened the windows and said 'how many points for that?',,,'Official business' was the reply, then she jumped the red light!

Gardai (and the other emergency services) are exempt from this law. Handsfree would be handy for them though.

marko91

well isnt talking on the phone while driving illegal?

_Kaiser_

SickCert wrote: »

I pulled up a female garda yesterday on the Cherrywood bridge for using her phone, opened the windows and said 'how many points for that?',,,'Official business' was the reply, then she jumped the red light!

Buffman wrote: »

Gardai (and the other emergency services) are exempt from this law. Handsfree would be handy for them though.

Sounds more like she was abusing the exemption to me and then ran a red light to emphasise her "untouchability" :mad:

Typical Garda behaviour though.. far too many of them think a badge makes them Dirty Harry (or Harriet in this case). :rolleyes:
It's rare that you meet a decent one (hell even professional and competent would be a start in my experience).

And like every other state-run body, there's absolutely nothing we can do about it!

Turner

Slightly off topic with regard to bus drivers talking on their phone..but,

I have broken many red lights while talking on the phone and while driving a garda car on duty.

Last time i did this was about 3 weeks ago, i was on the phone to the Garda station where a garda was on the phone to a member of the public. This person had jumped into another member of the publics car...after his car was hijacked at knife point.

The Garda was getting directions from the man who was following his car in the good citizens car. This garda was relaying the directions to me as our radio was not working. Well it was working but was breaking up and making a kind of squeeeeeeking noise as they always do. Alot of the time they are unusable. Taxi drivers and security guards have a better radio system than us.

This is why Gardai are not breaking the law by speaking on their phone while driving.

THIS PARTICULAR LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO THEM.

No dirty harry impersonations in the above post :rolleyes: simply doing my job.

January

Chief--- wrote: »

Slightly off topic with regard to bus drivers talking on their phone..but,

I have broken many red lights while talking on the phone and while driving a garda car on duty.

Last time i did this was about 3 weeks ago, i was on the phone to the Garda station where a garda was on the phone to a member of the public. This person had jumped into another member of the publics car...after his car was hijacked at knife point.

The Garda was getting directions from the man who was following his car in the good citizens car. This garda was relaying the directions to me as our radio was not working. Well it was working but was breaking up and making a kind of squeeeeeeking noise as they always do. Alot of the time they are unusable. Taxi drivers and security guards have a better radio system than us.

This is why Gardai are not breaking the law by speaking on their phone while driving.

THIS PARTICULAR LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO THEM.

No dirty harry impersonations in the above post :rolleyes: simply doing my job.

An OT question for you... if Gardai are allowed use mobile phones, why aren't bluetooth headsets mandatory?? It'd make it safer?

Turner

adrieanne__x wrote: »

An OT question for you... if Gardai are allowed use mobile phones, why aren't bluetooth headsets mandatory?? It'd make it safer?

I dont know. Email the minister for justice and ask him to amend the statute that allows gardai to use their phone while driving..

Mind you he will have to pay for all the blutooth headsets

Gruffalo

Chief--- wrote: »

Slightly off topic with regard to bus drivers talking on their phone..but,

I have broken many red lights while talking on the phone and while driving a garda car on duty.

Last time i did this was about 3 weeks ago, i was on the phone to the Garda station where a garda was on the phone to a member of the public. This person had jumped into another member of the publics car...after his car was hijacked at knife point.

The Garda was getting directions from the man who was following his car in the good citizens car. This garda was relaying the directions to me as our radio was not working. Well it was working but was breaking up and making a kind of squeeeeeeking noise as they always do. Alot of the time they are unusable. Taxi drivers and security guards have a better radio system than us.

This is why Gardai are not breaking the law by speaking on their phone while driving.

THIS PARTICULAR LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO THEM.

No dirty harry impersonations in the above post :rolleyes: simply doing my job.

Of course, because that is the only situation in which the bluebottles use their mobile while driving. You guys never abuse your authority:rolleyes:

Turner

Gruffalo wrote: »

Of course, because that is the only situation in which the bluebottles use their mobile while driving. You guys never abuse your authority:rolleyes:

Tell me how they are abusing their authority by talking on their phone while driving.

The specific law that makes it illegal for non gardai to use their phone does not apply to Gardai.

sorry for shouting but...

THEY ARE NOT BREAKING ANY LAW!

It just pisses you off because you cannot do it.

Buffman

Chief--- wrote: »

Slightly off topic with regard to bus drivers talking on their phone..but,

Thats for sure, I was gonna reply earlier but didn't as it's way OT.

Chief--- wrote: »

I dont know. Email the minister for justice and ask him to amend the statute that allows gardai to use their phone while driving..

Mind you he will have to pay for all the blutooth headsets

I don't think BT headsets would last too long in that job, the old fashioned 'cradle' type handsfree for the official mobile would probably be handier. Hopefully the new radios will negate the need for mobiles at all.

Turner

Yes back to the bus driver.

You should make a complaint in writing. Start a paper trail and keep a copy of it.

Buffman

Gruffalo wrote: »

Of course, because that is the only situation in which the bluebottles use their mobile while driving. You guys never abuse your authority:rolleyes:

Ah come on.
Do you need a refill of tar for your very big brush!

Victor

Gruffalo wrote: »

bluebottles

Can we stick to the words that grown ups use if polite discussion?

Gruffalo

Victor wrote: »

Can we stick to the words that grown ups use if polite discussion?

It is a common term used in the same lighthearted manner as "blueshirts" for Fine Gael. Is slang now forbidden by the thought police?

Gruffalo

Buffman wrote: »

Ah come on.
Do you need a refill of tar for your very big brush!

Is that the only situation where they use their mobiles when driving? Do Gardaí never abuse their authority?

Gruffalo

Chief--- wrote: »

Tell me how they are abusing their authority by talking on their phone while driving.

The specific law that makes it illegal for non gardai to use their phone does not apply to Gardai.

sorry for shouting but...

THEY ARE NOT BREAKING ANY LAW!

It just pisses you off because you cannot do it.

Did I say they were breaking the law in that instance? Is English no longer a requirement for the job?

January

If I was writing a letter, would I send it to DB, O'Connell Street? Or to the Harristown depot??? Does anyone know any contacts in DB that I could send the letter to?

SickCert

Send it to 59.

The depots are under too much strain at the moment with the new changes.

Buffman

adrieanne__x wrote: »

If I was writing a letter, would I send it to DB, O'Connell Street? Or to the Harristown depot??? Does anyone know any contacts in DB that I could send the letter to?

Probably best to send it to Head office here .
If you email them at the info address with 'Complaint' as the subject, I'd say it would get to the right person.

dancingqueen

Chief--- wrote: »

Tell me how they are abusing their authority by talking on their phone while driving.

The specific law that makes it illegal for non gardai to use their phone does not apply to Gardai.

sorry for shouting but...

THEY ARE NOT BREAKING ANY LAW!

It just pisses you off because you cannot do it.

Just because they are breaking the law, it doesn't make it safe because they are in a shiny white car............ it's still flipping dangerous especially the way they drive coming out of crossroads through red lights almost killing people who are going through green lights without any prior notice :mad:

dub_commuter

Same happened to me on the 46A. Driver using mobile going down O'Connell Street, stopped at D'Olier Street, before doing so noticed inspector put mobile phone away someone said to inspector at D'Olier Street who got on about it.

Inspector told the passenger off for stating such incorrect information and it was unhelpful for such malicious rumours to be spread about their drivers and it could land the member of the public in trouble as others may do it but not them.

Driver leaves D'Olier Street, When I push bell to get off on Lesson Street as moving to the front of the bus I notice he's on his phone again.

_Kaiser_

Chief--- wrote: »

Tell me how they are abusing their authority by talking on their phone while driving.

The specific law that makes it illegal for non gardai to use their phone does not apply to Gardai.

sorry for shouting but...

THEY ARE NOT BREAKING ANY LAW!

It just pisses you off because you cannot do it.

I just find it ironic that a normal joe public can get done for driving while on the phone (or even holding one) - the reasoning being that it's dangerous driving (which I'd agree with btw) - but somehow a Garda is presumably granted special powers of concentration with the badge so that the same limitation doesn't apply to them? :rolleyes:

Add a high-powered squad car to the equation (that a lot of Gardai are driving without advanced training), and it's an accident waiting to happen.
Indeed, have squad cars not inexplicably left the road and ploughed into walls, innocent bystanders etc in recent times, and while I can't say for sure that the reason was that the driver was on the phone, let's face facts - the general public would never find out anyway!

Just because someone has a badge doesn't make them in anyway superior to the rest of the general population in this (or any other) regard, and similarly just because it's not technically illegal, doesn't make it ok or acceptable.

Witcher

Isn't this thread about Dublin Bus?

We seem to have lost the topic among people's bitching about Gardai and mobiles, they didnt make the law, contact these people with your moans, you're destroying the thread.

OT- You did the right thing OP fair play, I'd write to DB too with all the info and complain.

January

(Trying to write a letter now, I think I may be rambling a bit, should I ask for an update on the outcome??)

I think the other thing that I was wondering about... what if the driver denies being on the phone? Do they take the drivers word for it?

Witcher

adrieanne__x wrote: »

(Trying to write a letter now, I think I may be rambling a bit, should I ask for an update on the outcome??)

I think the other thing that I was wondering about... what if the driver denies being on the phone? Do they take the drivers word for it?

Ask to be informed of what was done following your complaint, he may deny it or may say he was only on it for a minute or two or he might even admit it, either way I'm sure they'll follow up the complaint, afterall unless you were serious you wouldn't bother calling them and writing a letter of complaint to them.

Buffman

adrieanne__x wrote: »

(Trying to write a letter now, I think I may be rambling a bit, should I ask for an update on the outcome??)

I think the other thing that I was wondering about... what if the driver denies being on the phone? Do they take the drivers word for it?

Yep, ask to be kept upto date on any developments.

About the driver denying it, I think even the older busses have loads of CCTV cameras inside them now, so he may have been recorded doing it. (I don't know how long they keep the tapes for, I would guess a few days at least.)

Run_to_da_hills

Buffman wrote: »

(I don't know how long they keep the tapes for, I would guess a few days at least.)

Tapes, Its all digitalized now presume HDD or SD based. Most DB busses now have up to 7 cams on board, 7 internal and one foreward facing the road ahead. I also wouldn't be surprised if the driver had a separate cam and voice recorder to report attacks or abusive passengers, either way it wouldn't take much for DB to find out if a driver was using a mobile phone.

In the States they take mobile phone use on public service vehicles extremely serious, and impose stiff fines and jail sentences after a serious rail crash last year involving a pax & goods train in Southern California. They can also use cell site analysis to prove if mobile phone has been used by a driver on duty.

fiona-f

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Hi all,
When I got on the bus today, the driver was talking on his mobile phone, two stops later he was still on the phone, so I rang the depot (have number in my phone in case a bus is late...), gave the man on the phone all the details (bus number, what time it left at, where it was at the time etc...) and he said he'd get onto him about it.

A couple of stops later he STILL wasn't off his phone and no one had gotten in touch with him via the intercom/walkie talkie thing... so I got off the bus (I wouldn't sit in a car with someone on the phone, I wouldn't drive a car on the phone and I had my six month old baby with me, I didn't feel safe.). When I got off the bus, I rang the depot again and the guy on the phone said that the inspector in the city centre was going to talk to the guy when he got in there.

Would you have done the same thing??

Ah, this is something that drives me mad in two ways. (1) I have no tolerence for drivers of cars, buses, lorries or whatever (even cyclists!) using phones when driving. You are right, it is dangerous and it is illegal. But, something else bugs me too about the situation you describe: (2) Why complain now, why did you not say it to the driver directly? Surely you could have done so perfectly safely when you got on, at any of the two stops you mentioned or before you got off? It seems to me to be a very passive-aggressive Irish way of doing things that we avoid making a face-to-face complaint to the very person causing the problem, who could resolve it immediately, and instead go phoning and emailing higher-ups and giving out on internet forums. Fair enough, if you had said it to the driver and he continued regardless, then by all means take it further, but the easiest and clearest course of action would have been for you simply to tell the man your complaint.

holidayhere

Buffman wrote: »

Personally it depends, but good on ya for doing it.
If his driving was poor, I would call the Gardai.
Considering you can get a cheap bluetooth headset there is no excuse.

I agree, if those guys need to do this, there are ways of doing it.
I cannot understand how a guy like that would be on the phone.
They can be easily traced and probable reported several time.
If there were an accident and the guy had been previously reported, someone should be held accountable.

GerardKeating

fiona-f wrote: »

Why complain now, why did you not say it to the driver directly? Surely you could have done so perfectly safely when you got on, at any of the two stops you mentioned or before you got off?

Maybe the fear that the driver would just tell one to fo f*€K off and maybe the next day, not stop for one....

January

fiona-f wrote: »

Ah, this is something that drives me mad in two ways. (1) I have no tolerence for drivers of cars, buses, lorries or whatever (even cyclists!) using phones when driving. You are right, it is dangerous and it is illegal. But, something else bugs me too about the situation you describe: (2) Why complain now, why did you not say it to the driver directly? Surely you could have done so perfectly safely when you got on, at any of the two stops you mentioned or before you got off? It seems to me to be a very passive-aggressive Irish way of doing things that we avoid making a face-to-face complaint to the very person causing the problem, who could resolve it immediately, and instead go phoning and emailing higher-ups and giving out on internet forums. Fair enough, if you had said it to the driver and he continued regardless, then by all means take it further, but the easiest and clearest course of action would have been for you simply to tell the man your complaint.

Why should I have to tell a DB employee that they're breaking the rules?? He should KNOW...

SickCert

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Tapes, Its all digitalized now presume HDD or SD based. Most DB busses now have up to 7 cams on board, 7 internal and one foreward facing the road ahead. I also wouldn't be surprised if the driver had a separate cam and voice recorder to report attacks or abusive passengers, either way it wouldn't take much for DB to find out if a driver was using a mobile phone.

In the States they take mobile phone use on public service vehicles extremely serious, and impose stiff fines and jail sentences after a serious rail crash last year involving a pax & goods train in Southern California. They can also use cell site analysis to prove if mobile phone has been used by a driver on duty.

The CCTV overwrites itself every 5/6 days for the pre - 08 batch (they have more cameras). There is also an agreement that the content can only be used against the driver if the Garda are involved.

Watch THIS

IIMII

Which I suppose they would be if a complaint was made to them about drivers using the phone. I remember watching one talking on a mobile whilst driving along the Greenhills road of all places

Buffman

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Tapes, Its all digitalized now presume HDD or SD based.

Ye, I'm just being retro, I even own a VCR!:D

SickCert wrote: »

Watch THIS

Good example of how dangerous it is.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Cleopatra12

OP send the complaint to Ray Coyne. He is the Area Manager in Harristown. You are bang on to complain. All drivers know thay cant use either handsfree or phones at all. Would have said it to the driver tho. even tho he was flaunting the rules, you should have said it to him.

Slightly off point (so apologies)Gardai have exemption re use of mobiles. Its in the Road Traffic Act.

Cleopatra12

And you can send letter to Complaints dept, to covefr all bases. 59/60 Upr O'Connell St

January

Received this reply from Dublin Bus this morning by email.

Dear Ms



Thank you for your e-mail and for bringing this matter to our attention.



I have logged the details of your complaint on our feedback database and forwarded a copy of you mail to the Operations manager in Harristown as he is responsible for this route.



The Operations Manager has informed me that he will be interviewing the driver involved and he will be dealt with through Dublin Bus internal disciplinary procedures. The driver will also be warned about his future behaviour and will be made well aware of the consequences of further breaches of company regulations. Drivers are strictly prohibited from using mobile phones. Also a record of this incident will be kept on his file for future reference. This type of behaviour is completely contrary to training given to all our staff and will not be condoned.



Once again thank you for your e-mail and on behalf of Dublin Bus please accept my apologies for this drivers behaviour. It is only when the public point out these problems can we correct them and deliver a better and more professional service to the customer.



Best regards,

Phelim Mc Parland.

the boss of me

Am I the only one that thinks this is a nasty vindictive way to carry on ? You really went out of your way to get this driver in the **** didn't you?

I'm not saying the driver was right to use his phone while driving, of course he wasn't. But c'mon, two phone calls and an e-mail !
Maybe it made you feel important getting this guy into trouble but it looks to me like you're still like a schoolchild telling tales to the teacher.

Witcher

the boss of me wrote: »

Am I the only one that thinks this is a nasty vindictive way to carry on ? You really went out of your way to get this driver in the **** didn't you?

I'm not saying the driver was right to use his phone while driving, of course he wasn't. But c'mon, two phone calls and an e-mail !
Maybe it made you feel important getting this guy into trouble but it looks to me like you're still like a schoolchild telling tales to the teacher.

The driver is clearly an idiot and reckless. No.1 he's breaking the law No.2 he's putting the safety of the passengers on the bus and other road users at risk.

The OP did exactly what she should have, it's everyones responsibility to make sure people drive safely on the road and obey the law.

Tough sh1t on the driver, maybe he'll learn his lesson.

If everyone says "ah sure it's only a phone" then someday a bus will end up in a serious crash and then the same people will be on shouting their mouths off about safety. You might let it slide but any sensible person would have reported it like the OP did.

_Kaiser_

Blay wrote: »

The driver is clearly an idiot and reckless. No.1 he's breaking the law No.2 he's putting the safety of the passengers on the bus and other road users at risk.

The OP did exactly what she should have, it's everyones responsibility to make sure people drive safely on the road and obey the law.

Tough sh1t on the driver, maybe he'll learn his lesson.

If everyone says "ah sure it's only a phone" then someday a bus will end up in a serious crash and then the same people will be on shouting their mouths off about safety. You might let it slide but any sensible person would have reported it like the OP did.

+1,000,000

The biggest problem in this country is people don't complain enough - or more accurately, don't complain to the right people (your mates down the pub can't fix the crap drivers/economy/welfare cheats/politicians etc :rolleyes:).

This driver was completely in the wrong, simple as that and put the lives of everyone on the bus, as well as other motorists at risk. Fair play to the OP for their persistence and hopefully action WILL be taken against the driver so that MAYBE he'll think next time before he rings his girlfriend/mates while behind the wheel.

Well done on the result OP

the boss of me

Maybe the OP was right to report it, but c'mon kid. She made two phone calls, she was told the driver would be spoken to when he arrived in town and she still felt the need to follow it up with an-mail when she got home !!
Also can you answer me this ? If driving whilst on the phone is as dangerous as you make out, why are the Gardai allowed do it ?

it's everyones responsibility to make sure people drive safely on the road and obey the law.
/QUOTE]

It's up to the driver to drive their vehicle in a safe manner. It's up to the Gardai to enforce it. It certainly is not up the public to "inform" on everyone they see who commits a minor transgression of the road traffic laws. To me, it's just petty and smallminded

Witcher

the boss of me wrote: »

Maybe the OP was right to report it, but c'mon kid. She made two phone calls, she was told the driver would be spoken to when he arrived in town and she still felt the need to follow it up with an-mail when she got home !!
Also can you answer me this ? If driving whilst on the phone is as dangerous as you make out, why are the Gardai allowed do it ?

it's everyones responsibility to make sure people drive safely on the road and obey the law.
/QUOTE]

It's up to the driver to drive their vehicle in a safe manner. It's up to the Gardai to enforce it. It certainly is not up the public to "inform" on everyone they see who commits a minor transgression of the road traffic laws. To me, it's just petty and smallminded

Eh yes it is?

Local newspapers have ads encouraging people to inform Gardai of unsafe driving, Gardai can't be everywhere so it's up to people to ensure the roads are safe. People who say "it's not my problem" are usually the ones who complain about unafe driving but do little about it.

Get up off your @rse and complain about illegal activity.

It has been proven that phones cause accidents and to deny it is naivety.

Also the "why are Gardai allowed use phones" has no bearing on this htread and has already consued several pages of it. They're allowed use them in the course of their duty and that's how it is, get used to it.

_Kaiser_

the boss of me wrote: »

Maybe the OP was right to report it, but c'mon kid. She made two phone calls, she was told the driver would be spoken to when he arrived in town and she still felt the need to follow it up with an-mail when she got home !!
Also can you answer me this ? If driving whilst on the phone is as dangerous as you make out, why are the Gardai allowed do it ?

it's everyones responsibility to make sure people drive safely on the road and obey the law.

It's up to the driver to drive their vehicle in a safe manner. It's up to the Gardai to enforce it. It certainly is not up the public to "inform" on everyone they see who commits a minor transgression of the road traffic laws. To me, it's just petty and smallminded

I can't stress how much I disagree with this last statement. We're not about a guy who cuts into a buslane a few yards early to take a left at the next lights. We're talking about a driver continuously on the phone while carrying a busload of passengers - have a look at the youtube video earlier in the thread for why this is wrong if you still don't get it.

As for the Gardai.. I fully agree that the exemption they have shouldn't be in place - I explained my reasons for this too earlier in the thread.

Vanbis

Gruffalo wrote: »

Fair play to you. I would probably have called the Gardaí.

I probably wouldn't have done anything myself but when you have a small child i might think different so Fairplay to you.

the boss of me

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I can't stress how much I disagree with this last statement. We're not about a guy who cuts into a buslane a few yards early to take a left at the next lights. We're talking about a driver continuously on the phone while carrying a busload of passengers - have a look at the youtube video earlier in the thread for why this is wrong if you still don't get it.

That guy was texting on a motorway which is a totally different matter.
I never said it was ok for the driver to use the phone, but I do think that the OP overeacted getting off the bus and reporting him not just once, but three times.
Why not politely ask him to his face to finish his call ?

Also here's another question while we're at it. How much more dangerous is it for a driver to be on phone than a two way radio ? If phones are banned maybe radios should be too.

Witcher

the boss of me wrote: »

That guy was texting on a motorway which is a totally different matter.
I never said it was ok for the driver to use the phone, but I do think that the OP overeacted getting off the bus and reporting him not just once, but three times.
Why not politely ask him to his face to finish his call ?

Also here's another question while we're at it. How much more dangerous is it for a driver to be on phone than a two way radio ? If phones are banned maybe radios should be too.

How do you propose they communicate with the depot then? By telepathy?
A bit of reason has to be used in this case.