Thame School Bus Driver Reported Over Mobile Phone

A bus driver who was seen using a mobile phone as he manoevered his vehicle outside a busy school, has been reported to his employer and the police.
Parent, Cathy Gaulter-Carter, who was showing a County Council officer around the town’s walking and cycling routes, said she could not believe her eyes when she spotted the school bus driver steering the bus load of children from Lord Williams’s Lower school out of the school exit, turn left and then negotiate the busy zebra crossing outside the school with one hand – the other holding the phone up to his ear.
Mrs Gaulter-Carter said: “I cannot believe that this man, who has the safety of our children in his hands, could have acted in such an irresponsible way. There were lots of children milling out of school at the time and his irresponsible behaviour put those young people at risk.”
Mrs Gaulter-Carter complained to the school who said that they were told that the driver had been spoken to, and that the police had said that no action can be taken by them unless the incident was witnessed by two police officers.
Emails have been sent to Motts by Mrs Gaulter-Carter and by the editor of ThameNews.Net, asking what the company’s policy is regarding mobile phone use by their drivers, and what disciplinary action will be taken against the driver, but so far no reply has been received.

Photo: School buses collect pupils from Lord Williams’ school, Towersey Road, just before the white bus on the right is seen to be driven out of the school one-handed, while the driver uses a mobile phone with his left hand.