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Bus Eireann drivers on their (hand-held) phones while driving. Whaddaya do?

  • 12-01-2015 7:58pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭


    For the last year & a half I've been travelling regularly on a particular route on Bus Eireann. I make a trip on Friday evening & the return trip on Sunday evening almost every week during college term time.

    About 90% of the time, the drivers talk or text or both (or possibly doing other things) at some stage of the 2 hour drive. (The route continues after my stop.) I usually sit near the front so I can see and hear them.

    Several times I've emailed BE to complain about this; their drivers have my life in their hands (as well as all the other passengers & road users) & I'd appreciate if they could show a bit more respect. You get a fairly standard reply every time (e.g. "The driver concerned has been identified and has been interviewed in this regard. I would like to assure you that this matter has been dealt with accordingly and suitable corrective action taken in order to ensure there is no recurrence of your difficulties.") But of course it continues, same drivers, same route.

    So lately I've taken to directly asking the driver to put their phone down while driving. You can imagine how friendly the replies I'm getting are. :mad:

    So despite BE having a chat with their drivers, they continue to use their phones & put everyone around them at risk. What would you do next? Actually they're really pi$$ing me off at this stage; professional drivers who can't follow the most basic rules of road safety.


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 891 ✭✭✭Falcon L


    One word: Trafficwatch.

    OK two words. 1890 205 805


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,299 ✭✭✭moc moc a moc


    ^^ Exactly. This is criminal behaviour, which needs to be reported to the police. Evidently Bus Eireann themselves can not be trusted to adequately deal with the problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 488 ✭✭Rob Thomas


    I find this amazing. I know drivers for small companies and being on the phone is an instant sacking offence. You would imagine that Bus Eireann, given their profile would have a strict policy on this.

    OP if it's as bad as you say and you are getting lip service from the company, maybe consider other outlets to highlight the issue.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 944 ✭✭✭BetterThanThou


    Usually snap a picture, show it to them, and tell them I'm showing it to management if he doesn't hand me 50 euro on the spot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,545 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    record a couple of incidents and send it to the papers, would be a far more effective way to get the issue highlighted.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,866 ✭✭✭Damien360


    Talk to Joe....He fixes everything. I am sure the women from clontarf will have an opinion and that will teach them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,209 ✭✭✭bren2002


    Tweet and retweet a few photos.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,089 ✭✭✭henryporter


    Thought I was the only one witnessing this carry on - occasionally take the bus to work and the extremely discourteous, aggressive a-hole is either on the phone talking 'union stuff' with his mates or else has the radio up full belt. Total toe-rag - I think traffic watch may be getting a call the next time he offends.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    BE drivers can use a hands free like anyone else.

    I agree texting and holding phone up to ear is wrong. I would defo say something or bring it further but gaurds can't do anything unless caught in the act.

    They are allowed have radio on like all other road users with exception of db.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭shortie_chik


    Falcon L wrote: »
    One word: Trafficwatch.
    OK two words. 1890 205 805
    :)

    So I looked on the Trafficwatch website. I had thought there wouldn't be much point in ringing the gardai ("Hi, yeah I'm on the bus and the driver is on his phone. Oh wait, he's heard me & hung up so nevermind...") but I guess this means the gardai would actually contact BE. Maybe a firm chat from the gardai would be taken more seriously than from their manager.

    I wouldn't be looking to go to court (seriously, I'd be in there every other week at this rate. Ain't nobody got time for that!) and I'm not looking to get anyone fired. I just want to get where I'm going safely, and I'm sure everyone else on the road would like that too.
    Usually snap a picture, show it to them, and tell them I'm showing it to management if he doesn't hand me 50 euro on the spot.

    Hmmm, a couple more weeks of this & I'll be able to get private chauffeuring for the rest of the year! :D

    For now, I've got another email of complaint about both trips over the weekend to write... :(


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭shortie_chik


    BE drivers can use a hands free like anyone else.
    I agree texting and holding phone up to ear is wrong. I would defo say something or bring it further but gaurds can't do anything unless caught in the act.
    They are allowed have radio on like all other road users with exception of db.
    I can actually see them with their hand up to their ear, or with the phone held out infront of them to text. And I have seen drivers use handsfree to chat while keeping both hands on the wheel. No problems there, and I'm not complaining about their radio! :confused:
    Thought I was the only one witnessing this carry on - occasionally take the bus to work and the extremely discourteous, aggressive a-hole is either on the phone talking 'union stuff' with his mates or else has the radio up full belt. Total toe-rag - I think traffic watch may be getting a call the next time he offends.

    I'm just one person taking 2 buses a week; I didn't think I was unlucky enough that all the chatty/texty drivers were on my route! :P I have actually heard them talking about bus-stuff though, like their manager called to talk to them or something!
    And yes they can be a$$holes & while that's not illegal, there's no need for such rudeness. A couple of weeks ago I only had a €50 (straight from the ATM, that's all I had) & the driver was so obnoxious about it. I actually thought he wasn't going to let me on. I said that's all I have, and he said he couldn't be taking that. Sure what is your cash float for? Giving out to me doesn't change that I only have one note in my wallet! Siiiigh! :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    If 10 or less got on with the same only a €50 note then the driver would have now way of taking it apart from they can issue you a ticket and take the €50 while hopefully someone else gets on with change and he can then give you change.
    What happens is he can take it but if not enough change then he hands in at end of shift and it will be sent out to you the remainder you were owed.

    It's not a big amount but if you were to have a good few then the driver could be carrying 1000s.

    I would write to the overall manager or chief executive and give your comments and I agree with you it is very dangerous as they are in control of so many lives.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    OP you should get the bus number which is usually inside above the door area or above the front windshield and will be something like SC/SP XX or LC/LD XX then tweet to the following "@GardaTraffic @Buseireann " with details of the drivers transgression and the route and direction and the bus number.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭shortie_chik


    If 10 or less got on with the same only a €50 note then the driver would have now way of taking it apart from they can issue you a ticket and take the €50 while hopefully someone else gets on with change and he can then give you change.
    What happens is he can take it but if not enough change then he hands in at end of shift and it will be sent out to you the remainder you were owed.
    It's not a big amount but if you were to have a good few then the driver could be carrying 1000s.

    I get that not everyone can pay with fifties, and usually I use e-tickets, but it's gonna happen that people need to pay with fifties now & again, & the driver just has to be prepared to deal with that. Instead he just started giving out, which did absolutely nothing to help the situation. He didn't offer to give me my change later. Neither did he offer any voucher or receipt to claim back the difference. Just giving out, that was his solution. Anyway this thread was supposed to be about road safety which has to be prioritised over manners!
    I would write to the overall manager or chief executive and give your comments and I agree with you it is very dangerous as they are in control of so many lives.
    I have actually previously contacted the CEO of Bus Eireann to complain about well a long list of things actually (the straw that broke the camel's back etc.) Got a very short and unhelpful reply from customer service. And no improvement in service either.

    Oh maybe I just want to give out too! :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 387 ✭✭berger89


    QUOTE----And yes they can be a$$holes & while that's not illegal, there's no need for such rudeness. A couple of weeks ago I only had a €50 (straight from the ATM, that's all I had) & the driver was so obnoxious about it. I actually thought he wasn't going to let me on. I said that's all I have, and he said he couldn't be taking that. Sure what is your cash float for? Giving out to me doesn't change that I only have one note in my wallet! Siiiigh! :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]



    Ha, this bus doesn't happen to be travelling to the south east by any chance? Coz there is one driver in particular on a certain route who is the most ignorant man ever. He just has no manner whatsoever. I know that their job can be stressful, but even if he faked a hello or goodbye or pretended to care, I wouldn't mind as much but this one in particular is just awful


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    I get that not everyone can pay with fifties, and usually I use e-tickets, but it's gonna happen that people need to pay with fifties now & again, & the driver just has to be prepared to deal with that. Instead he just started giving out, which did absolutely nothing to help the situation. He didn't offer to give me my change later. Neither did he offer any voucher or receipt to claim back the difference. Just giving out, that was his solution. Anyway this thread was supposed to be about road safety which has to be prioritised over manners!


    I have actually previously contacted the CEO of Bus Eireann to complain about well a long list of things actually (the straw that broke the camel's back etc.) Got a very short and unhelpful reply from customer service. And no improvement in service either.

    Oh maybe I just want to give out too! :P
    Any change the driver has on the bus is usually his own cash from his/her own wallet.

    Bus Eireann do not give drivers any kind of float!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭shortie_chik


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    OP you should get the bus number which is usually inside above the door area or above the front windshield and will be something like SC/SP XX or LC/LD XX then tweet to the following "@GardaTraffic @Buseireann " with details of the drivers transgression and the route and direction and the bus number.

    I'll look out for that number, cheers!

    I did tweet BE before about a driver on a phone. Got serious abuse from some random twitter troll. As if I would care what he thought! :cool:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    I'll look out for that number, cheers!

    I did tweet BE before about a driver on a phone. Got serious abuse from some random twitter troll. As if I would care what he thought! :cool:

    Did you report the troll on twitter and block them?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭shortie_chik


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    Any change the driver has on the bus is usually his own cash from his/her own wallet.
    Bus Eireann do not give drivers any kind of float!
    What the hell? How can that be??? That seems ridiculous. No wonder they're always so happy to see me with my e-tickets!
    foggy_lad wrote: »
    Did you report the troll on twitter and block them?
    Hmm don't think I did. I don't use twitter that much (mostly for complaining to BE etc) so I didn't lose much sleep over it.
    berger89 wrote: »
    Ha, this bus doesn't happen to be travelling to the south east by any chance? Coz there is one driver in particular on a certain route who is the most ignorant man ever. He just has no manner whatsoever. I know that their job can be stressful, but even if he faked a hello or goodbye or pretended to care, I wouldn't mind as much but this one in particular is just awful
    It miiiiiight be! (Yes, yes it is. Although I don't think I've seen that guy very frequently.) The drivers don't need to be my best friend, just basic politeness will do!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 387 ✭✭berger89


    What the hell? How can that be??? That seems ridiculous. No wonder they're always so happy to see me with my e-tickets!


    Hmm don't think I did. I don't use twitter that much (mostly for complaining to BE etc) so I didn't lose much sleep over it.


    It miiiiiight be! (Yes, yes it is. Although I don't think I've seen that guy very frequently.) The drivers don't need to be my best friend, just basic politeness will do!

    Kind of ironic that in the first two seats of the bus there is a "no mobile phones allowed/don't use your mobile phone" sticker thingy on the window because it might "distract the driver." double standards or what.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 49 Paddez


    This has been going on years.
    Saw this a lot getting a 1 hour bus to and from college.

    Definitely felt uneasy about the whole thing


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,047 ✭✭✭Truckermal


    Jesus H Christ I was actually offered a job from BE and turned it down thankfully, some amount of know jockeys on buses taking photos of a driver FFS..


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,761 ✭✭✭cdebru


    Truckermal wrote: »
    Jesus H Christ I was actually offered a job from BE and turned it down thankfully, some amount of know jockeys on buses taking photos of a driver FFS..

    If you read through these threads you usually find the real cause of the offence, and in the case of this OP it seems that the real butthurt emanates from a driver not being delighted to see him and his €50 note, the rest of it seems to be his attempt to right the injustice done to him.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    cdebru wrote: »
    If you read through these threads you usually find the real cause of the offence, and in the case of this OP it seems that the real butthurt emanates from a driver not being delighted to see him and his €50 note, the rest of it seems to be his attempt to right the injustice done to him.

    Only a guess but I would imagine that him/he is actually a her/she when the username is read "shortie_chik".

    Whatever currency or denomination the OP tendered does not excuse illegal or unsafe behaviour by any driver of any vehicle.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭shortie_chik


    cdebru wrote: »
    If you read through these threads you usually find the real cause of the offence, and in the case of this OP it seems that the real butthurt emanates from a driver not being delighted to see him and his €50 note, the rest of it seems to be his attempt to right the injustice done to him.

    If you'll read the thread, you'll see the real issue was that the BE drivers on my route are constantly on their phones. My OP does not mention the rudeness, just the repeated phone use.

    The rudeness was an aside. I normally use e-tickets, so that rudeness was not the main issue.

    And I'd have thought from my username that it'd be obvious that I'm female.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    The rudeness was an aside. I normally use e-tickets, so that rudeness was not the main issue.

    The E-tickets with their MAC numbers are bringing out a certain grouchiness in some drivers on some routes and also at Busaras because they delay boarding and some drivers have to search out their "reading" glasses to see the number clearly to input it and then check the resulting ticket and drivers copy.


    I was recently informed by Bus Eireann that the handsfree earpieces are permitted for use by drivers but I don't particularly want any professional driver to be distracted while carrying on a used car business, organising renting out his holiday villa in Spain or talking to several callers about his recent holiday or doing his union work while driving along at 100kph on the motorway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Highly trained so an ear piece or radio is not going to distract the driver there are passengers there that do that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Highly trained so an ear piece or radio is not going to distract the driver there are passengers there that do that.

    Employed and paid to drive a bus, not to natter on the phone all day and getting distracted very easily by the content of the different conversations.

    Are teachers allowed to pull out their phones during classes and carry on other business? Are staff in Tescos allowed to use their phones while dealing with customers? Are staff in any other profession allowed and encouraged to use their private phones while bombing along the roads of the nation at 100kph with 50+ passengers lives in their hands?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina



    And I'd have thought from my username that it'd be obvious that I'm female.

    i have that problem too:D


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,761 ✭✭✭cdebru


    If you'll read the thread, you'll see the real issue was that the BE drivers on my route are constantly on their phones. My OP does not mention the rudeness, just the repeated phone use.

    The rudeness was an aside. I normally use e-tickets, so that rudeness was not the main issue.

    And I'd have thought from my username that it'd be obvious that I'm female.

    It seems to me that you, were more upset about the 50 euro incident than the phone, and I never bother trying to decipher gender from a username.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,761 ✭✭✭cdebru


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    Employed and paid to drive a bus, not to natter on the phone all day and getting distracted very easily by the content of the different conversations.

    Are teachers allowed to pull out their phones during classes and carry on other business? Are staff in Tescos allowed to use their phones while dealing with customers? Are staff in any other profession allowed and encouraged to use their private phones while bombing along the roads of the nation at 100kph with 50+ passengers lives in their hands?

    I don't think they are allowed or encouraged, but if they have to use the phone they should use a handsfree, in fairness it is easy to criticize them and I wouldn't condone random nonsense phonecalls but driving long distance when you have say a sick relative or a pregnant wife etc it would be extremely difficult to ignore the phone in those circumstances and probably far more distracting to your driving to try.
    In other jobs you mentioned it is easy to step outside the class room or nip to the toilet and take a call and people do it all the time in every profession but not so if you are driving.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,235 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    I have little problem with hands-free kits being used for intercity bus driving. I woudn't like to see Dublin Bus drivers doing it. They stop and interact with the public too often for one. And I can't find any data for this beyond a larger number of rte stories and casualties reported over the last 5 years, but there seems to be a higher prevalence of accidents with other road users among Dublin Bus than Bus Éireann? Perhaps a job where the surroundings and circumstances can change very quickly and a much greater interaction with cyclists too.

    On a vaguely related note, ironically I found few Bus Eireann-related accidents but one involved a Dublin Bus Summerhill VG rear-ending a Bus Eireann vehicle near Busáras!

    But I still see the odd driver on the 100X using their mobile phones, sans-handsfree-kit! :mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭shortie_chik


    cdebru wrote: »
    It seems to me that you, were more upset about the 50 euro incident than the phone, and I never bother trying to decipher gender from a username.
    For the last year & a half I've been travelling regularly on a particular route on Bus Eireann. I make a trip on Friday evening & the return trip on Sunday evening almost every week during college term time.

    About 90% of the time, the drivers talk or text or both (or possibly doing other things) at some stage of the 2 hour drive. (The route continues after my stop.) I usually sit near the front so I can see and hear them.

    Several times I've emailed BE to complain about this; their drivers have my life in their hands (as well as all the other passengers & road users) & I'd appreciate if they could show a bit more respect. You get a fairly standard reply every time (e.g. "The driver concerned has been identified and has been interviewed in this regard. I would like to assure you that this matter has been dealt with accordingly and suitable corrective action taken in order to ensure there is no recurrence of your difficulties.") But of course it continues, same drivers, same route.

    So lately I've taken to directly asking the driver to put their phone down while driving. You can imagine how friendly the replies I'm getting are. :mad:

    So despite BE having a chat with their drivers, they continue to use their phones & put everyone around them at risk. What would you do next? Actually they're really pi$$ing me off at this stage; professional drivers who can't follow the most basic rules of road safety.

    This is the original post. About drivers using hand-held phones. No mention of the rudeness here. Do you think I started this thread hoping for the later opportunity to give out about a grouchy driver? :confused:

    cdebru wrote: »
    I don't think they are allowed or encouraged, but if they have to use the phone they should use a handsfree, in fairness it is easy to criticize them and I wouldn't condone random nonsense phonecalls but driving long distance when you have say a sick relative or a pregnant wife etc it would be extremely difficult to ignore the phone in those circumstances and probably far more distracting to your driving to try.
    In other jobs you mentioned it is easy to step outside the class room or nip to the toilet and take a call and people do it all the time in every profession but not so if you are driving.

    The drivers on my route have A LOT of sick relatives, pregnant wives, other unignorable situations. They should possibly ask for a personal day to deal with these personal situations.
    Sitting so close by I can hear a lot of what they're talking about. Often bus stuff, never sounds like personal emergencies. Even I would be a more understanding of that.

    In my previous place of work, no phones were allowed. So no one had a phone on them. We left them in the break room, and we checked them only at designated break times. The company had a firm policy on this & no one took the pi$$. If there was an actual personal crisis at home, a manager would probably allow it. Otherwise, no phones.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 81 ✭✭poggyone


    health and safety the bane of modern life.


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