Here is some more video from our I-Team investigation into distracted school bus drivers. Some of it you may have seen in Ronnie Dahl’s report, some of it didn’t make it into the story that aired. I would like to say, many of the bus drivers seemed to be following all of the rules behind the wheel. The video below contains clips of what appears to be distracted driving behaviors.
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To see the original story click here. Let us know what you think. Just click the comment link below. You can even do this anonymously . Thanks for watching. -Billau
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16 comments:
Was it your intent to focus on bus driver safety in general, or just on Toledo Public bus drivers? The title of the segment sounds more general, but the only identifiable buses in the clips were from TPS. Not very thorough to leave out other local school systems...?
Also, I watched the both segment as it was broadcast and the clips posted online, and I'm surprised that anyone at your station found what was in those clips to be so newsworthy. It looks like you're trying very hard to make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Originally our intent was not to focus on TPS solely. Because we didn’t want it to seem like we were picking on one single district, we spent time gathering video from the Sylvania, Perrysburg, Springfield and Anthony Wayne school districts as well as Toledo Public Schools. After spending a number of afternoons getting video from each of the district’s busses, TPS’s drivers appeared to be the only distracted drivers. As for the video in the broadcast and the clips posted online, the video speaks for itself.
I think you're right, the video does speak for itself if you consider all the facts. There are how many TPS bus drivers compared to how many others at the other school districts? So you found a few bad apples out of how many drivers? And your advice? Tell the kids to be the watchdog. This sounds good in theory, but this tells me you don't know a whole lot about kids. You would have kids accusing their drivers just because they were punished for bad behavhior. You might get a few of the culprits, but for the most part you would just be creating a witch trial for these bus drivers, most of them very responsible drivers. putting them on trial just because someone wanted to point their finger.
Have you done a study on how many automobiles are doing the same thing? Have you ever seen people driving their cars and smoking pot as they are driving? How about open containers of alcohol? I have seen all of the above while driving my BUS!!
Because TPS is in the news, you have to keep them there?
Why is it only negativity is heard when you know there is also positive. Oh, that's right negativity is news.......
Catch them doing something good and let them know. That is how I've always looked at things.
I know it is much easier to point out the bad and not the good. I've always wondered why.
So lets see here, you have focused on approximately 160 drivers out of how many drivers (including all motor vehicles) through out the city and surrounding areas? Were you made aware that Tarta also transports school aged children? Oh forgive me, I forgot Tarta is not in the public eye right now.
I just want to say to all public transportation employees, "Keep up the great job you all are doing."
In response to your video about my livelihood..true not all drivers are "text book" individuals, however, they are human.
The "one" parent interview astounded me. "It is completely unacceptable to be distracted" well provide me with an adequate answer then Ms. Hull. If it is "completely" unacceptable to be distracted, how in the world are we suppose to help Little Johnny (surely hope this never happens to your child) when he is getting the tar kicked out of him and still stay completely focused on driving? Ms. Hull, let me advise you this is only one of many distractions I as a bus driver encounter.
One more question for you Ms Hull. While you were graciously giving an interview "on distraction", you never looked at the young passenger in your car,
were you distracted? Then again you are only human.
Unfortunately, due to contractual obligations with TPS I cannot publish my name nor bus number.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
while they drive students all through town.
They may get thirsty and take a drink,
why is that such a stink?
Some drive busses and look at books
please don’t judge them and give them looks.
They may be looking to take a left or right
because a wrong turn would make a horrible night.
Children of all ages are in their hands
there are even some, they can’t understand.
This is true some are distracted
while others, human instincts have been enacted.
I’m sure they don’t drive to hurt anyone
in most books that would be no fun.
They do their jobs and try their best
so why not just give it a rest.
After, seeing and reading these comments, I guess my turn to put my 2 cents worth in, I was a busdriver for many years, God Bless you all.. NOONE I mean NOONE, that does not drive a bus have a clue what the bus drivers put up with day to day, but they are not reckonize for that, only the bad, there are books out there that are called route books, to get your children to and from schools, in a timely manner, for those of you not aware of this it is very important that these drivers use them, (espically a sub) allthou you all might have a photographic memory, most drivers do not, as far as the cell phones go and taking a drink, well we are thanked when the cell phones come in handy to report a accident and saving a life, taking a drink of H2O, lets get real people, try being on a school bus when the temp is over 100 degrees and not having a drink to help you out, we are all human here, not one person out there has ever drove a motor vechicle and not took a sip of a beverage, lets get real here.. the saftey is most important of these children we all know that, but the saftey of the general public is aslo imp[ortant, so when you all see a driver in a car or other transportation why not make a call, they are 160 driver at TPS, AND HOW MANY THOUSANDS DRIVERS, are out there on a daily basics using there cell phones eating a burger, putting on make up and having oral sex while driving a car, but I guess from all of this doesnt cause accidents, I have seen it all let me tell you, sitting high above al the cars, taking a swig of water is nothing compared to the things i have seen, so before any judges these drivers, you drive with 30- 78 kids behind you hanging out windows spitting, eating fighting and running all around, it isn't easy folks, how about a few, hey drivers we appreciate your hard work, your patients and we are glad our children make it home safe everyday, alittle praise goes along way.. believe it or not, drivers are distracted by the children more often then not, so keep in mind this is a 9-5 job, we dont just sit behide a desk and starte out at the beautiful day, we drive in sleet, we drive in snow rain and heat.. if you all that think we are that bad then by all means have at it, they hire drivers all the time.. put yourself behind the wheel of 60 kids once and stay focus at all times with stuff being thrown at you and the fighting and all, i think some of your attitudes would change alittle realizing our lives are in more danger then these children.. thanks
Wow, the bus driver who wrote the above comment apparently isn't too educated. Nice work trying to prove your point when nobody can take your seriously.
I agree with the drivers that there are many distractions involved with driving a bus load of children. That is why I believe that there is no excuse for adding to the distraction by eating, drinking, talking on cell phones, or having ipods attached to your ears. Take responsibility for what you saw on the tape. Put a stop to these behaviors.
To the person who wrote, "Wow, the bus driver who wrote the above comment apparently isn't too educated," please take a look at how you worded your OWN second sentence: "...nobody can take YOUR seriously." Your who?? Your MAMA???!!!
OH WELL, AS A PARENT WHO's CHILDERN HAVE RIDDEN THE TPS BUS'ES FOR MANY YEAR'S , I ONLY HAVE ONE THING TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR GETTING MY CHILDERN TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY !
Regarding the TPS school bus drivers story that Channel 13 aired, I have to say that it's too bad TV13 had to dig that deep to try and put down a few drivers in order to boost their ratings. This desperate grasping-at-straws for a "story" HAD to be ratings-driven because it certainly wasn't about great investigation! Most of the busses shown in the story either had no students on them or were stopped at the traffic lights.
I also find it VERY difficult to believe that this story was not all about targeting TPS bus drivers (as was otherwise stated), because I have seen MANY drivers in other districts doing these very things as well; however, for all of the hype we heard for DAYS leading up to this story, it was a HUGE letdown! The TV13 camera crews were out at the corner of Hill and Reynolds for SEVERAL DAYS filming those school busses, and that's ALL they came up with??? How pathetic!!! This was not a story, especially not an INVESTIGATIVE story, and wasn't even worth the time TV13 spent filming and airing it! I really hope they'll learn from their mistake here and maybe next time would concentrate on doing a more positive story about the other 150 TPS drivers who do a GREAT job everyday!!!!
Please... try doing a story about the MAJORITY. What about when ALL of the other schools have closed because of the weather, and TPS has gotten the kids to school safely. Yes, you're out there reporting from the TPS transportation center just to say they are the ONLY schools open and all of the others have closed, but you never bother to throw a compliment out to the TPS drivers on those days and say what a great job they did to get those kids to and from school in less than ideal conditions! Next time, try telling your viewers how the TPS drivers have returned to the schools with bookbags, lunches, eye glasses, and musical instruments that were left on the busses so the children would have their homework and lunch for school that day (...not to mention running back cell phones and ipods as well!) Yes, the TPS drivers do this kind of thing on a daily basis, and a lot of the time they do it on their OWN time, in their OWN vehicles AFTER they get back from their morning route. How about when the parents of pre-schoolers are not at the bus stop in the afternoon to get their children off of the bus? Can the driver just pull up and leave that pre-schooler there alone? Absolutely NOT!!! So then who do you think sits there with that child until the parent finally arrives???...sometimes an hour later!!! It's the hard-working and caring TPS bus drivers. How about bus drivers returning phone calls to concerned parents on their OWN TIME. What about the way the TPS drivers are always on the look-out for suspicious things as well as reporting traffic problems. There have been many things that our school bus drivers have phoned in to police which have been very helpful but are never reported on the news.
Let's also not forget that the TPS bus drivers are the first ones who greet our children in the morning on their way to school... and some of these kids really need and appreciate a friendly greeting from someone they know cares about them. School bus drivers are not "just drivers" but are mediators, counselors and friends, and it is NOT any easy job. Most parents (and reporters) don't realize the responsibility these drivers have. Many of us know what it's like having our own kids in the car for even a short drive and what it's like if they are arguing or not getting along. Try having 40, 60, or 80 of them all together in a confined area for an hour! I know a lot of drivers probably wish that parents could ride, unnoticed to the students, just for a day so that they could see first-hand the kinds of things they have to deal with on a daily basis. While I'm sure school bus drivers don't want our sympathy, it would be nice if the majority of them could be shown in a decent light for all of the good things they do every day, instead of being shown poorly for the fairly minor things that a very few of them do.
I just can't understand why Channel 13 chooses to do these negative stories. I realize they are trying to get good ratings, but if they keep doing this type of reporting, they will REALLY have to worry about their ratings because people will NOT keep tuning in. I would bet that a lot of TPS drivers, their friends and family members won't be watching TV13 anymore since this story aired, and how many of those drivers did you say there are...around 160??? If they all stopped watching and so did their friends and family members, you are talking about thousands of people right there! So in the end, this ratings-driven story could actually end up making them LOSE a LOT of viewers in the long run. Was it worth it Channel 13???
just wondering if you will ever do a story on the drivers with YEARS of safe driving or maybe the bus rodeo?
"DISTRACTED SCHOOL BUS DRIVER"
13
YOU MAKE ME SICK WITH YOUR REPORT YOU DID ON THE "DISTRACTED SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS". WHY DON'T YOU TELL THE PUBLIC THE TRUTH IN YOUR REPORT? GO SIT IN FRONT OF ANY TPS SCHOOL IN THE AFTERNOON AND NOT ON HILL AVE. IN FRONT OF CHUCH'S CHICKEN TO LET THE PUBLIC SEE WHAT A REAL "DISTACTED SCHOOL BUS DRIVER" LOOKS LIKE? 0 OF ANY OF YOU THAT HAVE TOOK PART IN THIS INVESTIGATION NOR THE PUBLIC HAS A CLUE TO WHAT IT IS LIKE TO DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS, AND LETS NOT FORGET THE "SNOW DAYS" WHEN THE TPS DRIVERS ARE OUT AND HAVE TO TRAVEL ON THE SAME STREETS THAT THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE CLOSED OR HAVE A 2 HOUR DELAY ON ACCOUNT OF THE CONDITONS OF THE STREETS. I WILL SEE YOU ON THE STREETS OF TOLEDO!!!!! P.S. FOR THE PERSON WHO WROTE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO IS NOT EDUCATED? WELL I GUESS THE PERSON HAS TO HAVE SOME WHAT OF A EDUCATION TO DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS, THAT COMES FROM THE STATE OF OHIO. DO YOU HAVE A CDL WITH A SCHOOL BUS AND PASSENGER ENDORSEMENT? IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IS TAKES TO DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS, TPS IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD BUS DRIVERS!
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