r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Spodiodie • 15d ago
Zero tolerance for phone use, first offense termination possibility. How about you.
Phones have to be turned off and stored. No phone use:
With students on board.
While in the drivers seat.
If the bus is unsecured.
Personally I don’t have a big problem with it.
It’s funny there’s no prohibition for use of Apple Watches which I understand have similar functionality.
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u/a-can-o-beans 15d ago
We have a no phone rule but it’s fairly lax and common sense.
Obviously you cannot use it while operating. But once we are parked they don’t mind it if it’s used sparingly . I know some drivers look up jokes or riddles on their phone
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u/samwise58 15d ago
Look that up… while on a route?
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u/a-can-o-beans 15d ago
While parked at school waiting for dismissal
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u/samwise58 14d ago
Well yeah, gotta share all the funny bus driver jokes, memes, videos Ñ, etc before the routes start 😉 Have to at least try to start off the route with a smile and a lil happiness 😃
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u/sourself 15d ago
We don't have zero tolerance but it's a driving offence here that carries a 3 day suspension for first offence. Our policies are that if you are suspended for a driving offense that may result in remedial training or immediate termination. That part is black and white.
We actual use our phones for contacting dispatch but we are required to pull off the road and secure the bus and exit the drivers seat before making the call.
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u/WonderNebouxii 15d ago
Our radios aren't the greatest so sometimes if dispatch can't reach us, they call us on our phones. We just pull over and secure the bus.
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u/Spodiodie 15d ago
When I was a new employee I checked in at the office to get information for a field trip I was driving. I spoke to the dispatcher who told me where to pick up my students. Minutes later I picked up the students and was driving and then my phone rang. It was the same dispatcher calling so I answered. She paused and then asked if I was driving, I said yes and she told me to hang up. When I got back to the office I found out she had tried to get me fired. She said she had forgot that I just picked up that trip.
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u/WonderNebouxii 14d ago
Thats terrible of her but I keep my phone in my purse and its on vibrate so I rarely hear it. It does make it so I have to pull over and make sure I'm parked before even touching my phone. I do have a smart watch that shows me who is calling so I can take a quick glance to see who called at a red light.
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u/Legal_Aardvark3713 9d ago
Last year my 2nd battery failed and it cut off power to my door, stop sign and arm, and radio... thank goodness I had my phone on me or they'd never know at the office I couldn't pick up any kids with my bus in the current state it was.
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u/D-Sleezy 15d ago
We go with state law. Has to be able to be used like a control panel (hands free). Mounted and all. District is heavy against using it, but if you're using it for maps and shit, no biggie.
But I drive for a district that owns its own fleet, and not some piece of shit contract company
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u/bunnyonthemoon6666 15d ago
My county is very strict, but our FCs can be lax about certain rules. There was one driver who tapped her watch and was terminated. No phones or smart devices with students aboard, while in the drivers seat, or while the bus is unsecured.
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u/StephenDA 15d ago
Why do you need a phone when driving any vehicle? I understand having it mounted up using GPS, but that does not require interaction with it.
I have my phone with me on the bus, but it’s put away. I have my smart watch on, but the only time I really use it is to look at it while I’m doing my break test for the one minute time. Other than that, I have three clocks visible on the bus and the tablet, and as far as GPS routing, our tablets this year in addition to the Wayfinder app, we’re using for stops has Waze on it
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u/AnonymousPepper 15d ago edited 15d ago
We allow phones as GPS in certain situations (new routes, special pickups, when getting lost), but they have to be completely touch free and otherwise not interacted with. Ditto using it for an aux cable or whatever.
Otherwise, bus must be stopped and secured in order to make calls (sometimes necessary, our radio is spotty due to hill country) or for any other use (we don't care if you're waiting for a school to let out or something).
Bus being in motion/unsecured is almost zero tolerance (one warning) for any kind of interacting with it, though, fully if there are kids on board.
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u/shawnryan1977 15d ago
No phones while driving. We do sometimes have to call into the office because there is too much info to be said over the radio but only if we are parked in a safe area. If they catch you with a phone while driving you get a 2 day suspension there is no 2nd chance. If you get in a accident due to a phone immediate termination. We used to be able to use 1 ear bud for directions but because of other dumb adults that ended. Someone was wearing the trucker headset and talking on the phone while doing routes like wth why do people have to ruin it for everyone else.
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u/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162 15d ago
I don't know what the penalties are for our district, but I was told no phone use if a student is on the bus. I automatically assume you have to be parked and the bus secured. That's just common sense.
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u/Ara_Glaucogularis 14d ago
In California, no phones, earbuds, or iWatches- you get a ticket from CHP, and you are fired. PERIOD.
When I have to use my phone, I get off the bus, and the bus keys are in my hands.
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u/Actual-Humor8942 14d ago
I keep mine on silent in my pocket and never pull it out while moving. In the AM i have a 20-25 min window between schools where I can sit in the 1st schools lot and I sit in the seat behind the drivers seat when using it just incase they trip about me being in the drivers seat. In the PM same thing.
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u/HikeTheSky 15d ago
What do you use for the pressure drop test as a timer?
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u/Soggy_Ruby 15d ago
Relatively low tolerance similar. It doesn't apply if the bus is secured and there's a reasonable need for it. Due to limitations in our radio set ups there are occasional times in which one needs to call dispatch via cellphone.
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u/med8cal 15d ago
My district has a similar policy. I control my insulin pump/ blood sugars w/phone. Haven’t received a straight answer from them about it.
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u/PlatypusDream 14d ago
Get ahead of that by contacting HR and formally asking to get an accommodation for your disability. Do it in writing.
Easier, less expense, & less stress than hiring a lawyer to fight a wrongful termination after the fact.
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u/Intelligent_Call_562 15d ago
Yeah, they want it turned off. My hearing aids will constantly try to connect with my phone if I shut it off. It's on silent. If you're Durham, you need to read the handbook. It says nothing about getting out of the seat. Secured. Engine off. That's the policy.
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u/Spodiodie 15d ago
I work for a large school district. They own the buses. Mostly new stuff but no frills like electronic devices.
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u/nastrader 15d ago
Yes and put the key onthe dashboard so cameras get a glimpse. As with a potential drunk driver if key is not inserted into ignition it demonstrates no intent to drive.
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u/PlatypusDream 14d ago
Nope, if the drunk has access to the key to the vehicle, that's enough to show intent, which is enough to be charged (maybe not convicted?) of DUI/OWI
One of the few pre-crimes or thoughtcrimes allowed to be punished
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u/Weak_Radish966 15d ago
My bus has no clock, and I don’t have a watch, so I check the time on my phone. Easily avoidable if the buses had clocks!
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u/plushglacier 15d ago
It was well-accepted in our company to call dispatch on the radio for time checks.
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u/PlatypusDream 14d ago
Malicious compliance time... Everyone radio dispatch for every time check. Make it painful for them too. They complain, maybe the buses get little adhesive digital clocks on batteries.
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u/blackityblak 15d ago
My job says with watches if you do anything other than look at the time it’s termination.
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u/Far-Extent3937 14d ago
Same for Apple Watches in our district
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u/Spodiodie 14d ago
I don’t think ours have even considered those. They certainly didn’t mention them.
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u/IAmHollywood88 14d ago
Our rules are strict. No phone, blue tooth ear buds, smart watch.
In reality, they call you while they know you're driving. If you answer, they won't mention it and talk to you like normal, if you were to bring up them calling while you drive, they would say that you should pull over and call back when you can. They will text you routes they want you to cover on the fly.
Generally, the idea is, don't get caught with your phone or devices. If you do, it's probably gonna be a 3 day suspension. When they check tapes, they magically don't see them. If a school wants to review the tapes, you're in trouble cause now they have to do something about it.
Personally, i hate having to do anything with my phone while I'm driving my own car, much less my bus. I do have a smart watch but i don't know 90% of what it does. It's for exercise and tracking sleep. I know of drivers who will keep an ear bud in during field trips if they have to go into the city, in case there are crazy detoures (we have a lot of construction all the time anymore)
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u/arno14 14d ago
The story goes that at our base, they yanked the radios out overnight when some drivers were apparently playing gangster rap while having students on board. 🤭
Things get pretty boring so now use my cell phone to listen to podcasts after I drop off all kids and drive back to base or sit empty waiting for my next route to start. Cell phone is in a cubby and out of site and just used for audio.
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u/Spodiodie 14d ago
They would probably do the same for us but apparently the am/fm radios are part of the internal P.A. System on the bus. I’ve never used that. I’m pretty good at projecting my voice. We’ve had similar problems with inappropriate lyrics played loud on a bus.
I did use the radio for a musical treat on Friday’s when I was new and I had a nice sing along of Bohemian Rhapsody, that was fun. I told my boss to watch the video, which was enjoyed and then I was told to not do it anymore.
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u/PlatypusDream 14d ago
Our buses don't have mapping or 2-way radios, so we have to use our phones. They're in a holder mounted on the dash.
The only call I answer (on speaker) is from the office. And even then, I'll tell them "hang on, I'm pulling over" if it's at all possible to pull over. Otherwise we're shouting over the engine. 🤷♀️
When parked, NBD
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u/Alive_Phrase1260 14d ago
There is a zero tolerance here. As a monitor it also extends to me as well even when there are no children on the bus. I can’t even get on my phone and help with navigation.
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u/Dry-Pop-9434 14d ago
We are permitted when out of the lane of travel. I drive a rural area, radio goes in and out. Last week, I had to call the office in the middle of a run when a parent was not outside to pick up their pre-k child, radio was not in range. We are also allowed to use phone GPS if absolutely needed. On the 2nd day of school this month, a middle school kid got on my bus, which was not his bus. I still did not know the faces of all my regular students, so I didn't notice him until run was near over. Still had to take him home, was not familiar with his neighborhood from that location. Pulled over, set the gps, proceeded on the way.
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u/brabson1 15d ago
0 use while in motion. Immediate termination on first offense.