A Deadline Detroit consultant's photo has sparked action in Windsor.
Transit Windsor, which operates passenger buses crossing under the Detroit River, is investigating what it calls a "very serious" policy breach by a driver shown using an iPad behind the wheel. He was photographed Thursday evening by Ethan Mayers, a New York-based management consultant for Deadline Detroit.
The driver, who identified himself as Brandon Blake in a Windsor Star comment posted Friday night, could face a verbal warning, suspension or dismissal, general manager Penny Williams tells The Windsor Star.
"We are currently investigating, and we will take appropriate action,” Williams said. “Safety is our primary concern . . . this is very serious. . . . I was extremely disappointed."
Even if the bus had been stuck in traffic and halted, “it’s still against our policies,” she said. A video clip [shot by Mayers] shows the bus following another vehicle in light traffic.. . .
Williams said there have been suspensions handed down in the past over drivers using cellphones while behind the wheel.
In a 510-words comment below Doug Schmidt's article, a Facebook user from Windsor named Brandon Blake says:
"I am that driver. . . . What Mr. Mayers doesn't show you is that the tunnel was in heavy traffic. . . . Usually, when us bus drivers are sitting or going in a crawl we whip out a book or turn our music on. . . .
Even drivers who are now supervisors would whip out their books and read them while waiting in heavy traffic. It was around the rush hour time. . . . Remember, this is not regular street, You are sitting in traffic in a tube with nowhere to go but straight, moving at less than about 1 km.
In Deadline Detroit's report Friday, Mayers said he was surprised to see the iPad use in the tunnel Thursday around 6:30 p.m.
"I was absolutely shocked," said Mayers, a specialist in business planning, financial modeling and operations strategy. "I was almost too scared to say anything. My only focus was to get off the bus. "
