Bus driver operating a phone while driving, gets annoyed and says "I'm sorry" when passengers complain

A bus driver operating a running bus while using a mobile phone.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] A Seoul city bus driver sparked controversy by operating a mobile phone while driving over a Han River bridge.

On the 5th, Yonhap News reported that at around 12:41 PM on the 25th of last month, a bus driver operating a bus in Seoul was seen holding a mobile phone in his left hand and manipulating it with his right hand, which greatly surprised a citizen who reported the incident. Mr. A reportedly immediately recorded the driver with his own mobile phone.

In the video recorded by Mr. A, the driver had his left hand holding the phone while resting it on the steering wheel despite the vehicle moving at high speed. The driver manipulated the phone screen with his right finger for about 40 seconds, neglecting the obligation to keep his eyes on the road while driving.

When Mr. A protested, the driver responded irritably, saying, "I'm sorry." Mr. A then called the bus company to complain and reported the incident to the police through the National Police Agency’s online complaint system, expressing his concern about the serious safety negligence of both the driver responsible for passenger safety and the bus company.

Mr. A stated, "Other bus drivers also operate smartphones while driving," adding, "It seems they continue this behavior due to the misconception that no accidents will occur and because of lenient punishments." He further emphasized, "I heard that to report to the police, the video must include the date, location, and driver information to impose a fine. This is inconvenient for citizens reporting incidents. I hope related laws will be revised for safety."

Meanwhile, a bus company official told Yonhap News over the phone, "Perhaps the driver was dealing with a family matter," and added, "If confirmed to be true, the driver will receive a written warning and a reprimand."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.