Gamertell

A Honolulu bus driver was recently suspended from driving after being accused of playing video games while on the job. As reported by KITV-TV, Denita Waltz shot a video of the bus driver during a trip from Pearl City to Punchbowl. Waltz accused him of playing a game while driving the bus.

Waltz was quoted by KITV as saying “he should’ve been fired, flat out.” The bus management, rather than firing the veteran driver, suspended him without pay for two weeks. There is no indication on whether or not he will be fired. The only indication is that Searle Pestana, another bus driver, was suspended and is expected to be fired after getting arrested for driving intoxicated. While Pestana’s BAC was twice the legal limit, the current problems with the other driver are similar due to judgment being impaired. Pestana’s judgment was impaired in a chemical way. This bus driver’s judgment was allegedly impaired electronically.

Multi-tasking while driving is not only dangerous but also incredibly stupid. To effectively and safely drive you have to be aware of everything going on both inside and outside of your vehicle. Even then you have to worry about other people, since there are a lot of bad drivers out there. Even if you’re completely aware that doesn’t do away with possibility of an accident.

If you’re distracted that makes both pedestrians and other drivers have to watch out for what you’re going to do. Due to the fact that drivers are also unpredictable, it’s generally a better idea to stay focused on your surroundings.

Yes, while the driver was only playing video games while going through his route, the management company was right in suspending him. If there’s a history of complaints against drivers, there might be something wrong with the driver’s work ethic and it would be wiser to fire the driver. Seeing as how the gaming was also caught on film, it makes things harder to defend on his end. If it wasn’t on film he could have made the argument that the accusation is completely false. It happens occasionally in other industries, some of which I have had the misfortune of witnessing and hearing about. Who’s to say false accusations wouldn’t find their way into transportation.

The thing that everyone has to realize is that when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle their well-being and the well-being of passengers and those outside of their vehicles in their hands. This is true of any professionals working in transportation, especially if they are employed by either the city or state that they are in. You shouldn’t want to distract yourself since there’s a lot at risk. It only takes one slip in judgment to ruin someone’s (including your own) day and, in the case of more serious accidents, life.

Read [KITV-TV] Also Read [KGMB9 News] Also Read [PSP Fanboy] Also Read [Kombo.com]

image borrowed from Kombo.com