Bus driver caught allegedly playing a mobile game while driving

After he was caught on video allegedly playing a mobile game while driving, a bus driver said he was willing to face the consequences of his actions, Joseph Morong reported Tuesday on 24 Oras.

In a video uploaded on a mobility website, the driver could be seen on his phone while driving his bus, his vehicle behind another bus.

While he admitted that he was using his cellphone, the driver denied he was playing, explaining he was merely checking his phone.

“Hindi po, ginanun-ganon ko lang. Pag-abante, umabante na po. Nakabukas ako sa COC…Tiningnan ko lang, traffic naman po kasi tanghali, inaantok po… pantanggal ano ba… yung antok, yung inip,” said the driver.

(No, I only… When it went forward, I drove forward. I opened COC… I only looked, there was traffic then because it was the afternoon, and I was sleepy… To relieve the… sleepiness, the boredom)

“Haharapin ko nalang po yung ano… mali ko naman talaga…” he added.

(I’ll just face the… It was my fault)

He further said that he was inside the EDSA Bus Carousel barrier at Roxas Boulevard and not driving along the EDSA Extension.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the driver may face charges for violating the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, while the bus company may face suspensions.

A show-cause order is set to be filed against the driver and the bus company.

“Bawal gumamit ng cellphone habang nagmamaneho. (Using a cellphone while driving is not allowed.) For the bus company po, for employing a negligent employee, the franchise can be suspended," LTFRB Chairman Attorney Teofilo Guadiz III said.

According to Republic Act 10913, drivers are not allowed to write, send, read a text, call, play, watch, surf, or do any activity falling under “distracted driving” while their vehicle is running or at a stoplight.

Only emergency vehicles on-call are exempted from said law.

Violators would face fines starting at P5,000 up to P20,000, as well as possible suspension or revocation of their driver’s license. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News