14 replies to this topic

[MikeP]

I frequently write about matters related to public transport, as I feel it should be better promoted and supported.  For that reason, I use it quite often, the route I use most frequently being the 230 Sophia Express between Sophia Antipolis and Nice/Airport.  

It is quite usual to see the bus drivers using their handheld cellphones whilst driving, sometimes even on the motorway.  Apart from being illegal,  this is quite unacceptable as it places other roads users and passengers at risk. In the past, when I was nearly wiped out by a bus taking a corner wide because the driver was using his 'phone, I rang the company and was told : "Ce n'est pas possible parce que ce n'est pas permis ....." so I must be a liar......?

After an incident a couple of weeks ago I wrote to, and emailed, the bus company and have not even had the courtesy of a reply.  This is pretty typical of the French attitude to anything they don't like,  they ignore it in the hope it will go away.  It's typical of French business not to return 'phone calls or acknowledge letters,  although interestingly I find that the government departments are very good in this respect.

I've told them that in future I will photograph the offending driver and go to the police with the photo.  Even that has had no result.

Next steps? Any suggestions apart from the usual 'recommandé avec avis de reception' which they can still ignore.  

I'd like anyone else who has experienced this to add their voice here and to complain.  I think this is the correct address :

Centre administratif départemental
Route de  Grenoble
B.P 3007
06201 Nice Cedex 3

email : transport-tam@cg06.fr

[Mike Meade]

This isn't a question of courtesy. It's a question of danger to the public.

That address probably needs a department name added or you can count on it getting lost in the vast amount of mail.

Take that picture next time and send it by email to the Reporter.

If you have the time, number, etc of the bus in question, please send it to the Reporter also.

We will follow up with a letter ourselves but legally it's hearsay without a picture and/or times, bus number, licence, etc.

[Sean]

Hi I have also seen this .............  several times. I will follow up next time.

Edited by Sean, 30 September 2011 - 12:03.

[Mike Meade]

Are we talking about SunBus, Ligne d'Azur, TAM or which service.

You provide the information as above and we will contact them.

[MikeP]

I am happy to provide this information.  

• The date of the last incident was 09  September,
• the bus was the 230 TAM service (Sophia Express), the 1600 departure from Nice to Sophia which I  boarded at the Promenade des Anglais stop oppposite the airport at about 1615.  

The driver made several calls whilst the bus was on the A8 prior to turning off  at the Antibes Est exit.  I did not record the registration of the vehicle.

[MikeP]

I’d like to ask anyone who sees bus drivers using a phone whilst  driving, to make a note of the bus number, route, time, date, and if possible  take a photo.  

This way there will be proof with which to confront the  authorities and the bus company about this dangerous practice.  This is the only way to get it stopped.

[MikeP]

GOTCHA !!!!

[MikeP]

Not passing the buck!  

The French are very good at passing the buck and blaming others for their own failings, and yet, when you want them to ..... they don't because they all stick together.

A few weeks ago a bus driver of the 500 was reported for using his cellphone whilst driving.  There was no reply to the letter of complaint, and a chaser invoked the response below :

Bonjour  Monsieur,

En effet, j’aurais du vous répondre que  cette réclamation ne nous concernait pas : nous n’étions pas gestionnaire de la  ligne 500 au mois d’avril.

Cependant, je vous informe que nous allons  être chargés de cette liaison à partir du 1er juillet :  nous ne manquerons pas  de rappeler aux chauffeurs l’interdiction de téléphoner au volant, sans kit main  libre.


I would have thoguht an appropriate response would have been for the complaint to be responded to immediately so that the matter could be dealt with rather than allowing it (deliberately of course) to become buried in the mists of time.

[Mike Meade]

MikeP, you have to decide whether you would like a shot at correcting this lamentable situation or not.

Part of your approach is counter-productive. If you'd like to win the battle against phone using bus drivers, you won't do it by generally criticising "the French" and their attitudes. Even if your opinions on cultural differences are correct, you will only get action by specifically criticising the drivers who phone while driving and those who allow this to continue. Everything else is extraneous and detracts from the issue at hand.

France is no different from anywhere else. Imagine a Frenchman trying to get better attitudes in his local British hospital by approaching the issue with "you British are typically incompetent at such things". He'd get nowhere, not because he is wrong, but because he hasn't taken the most effective route to improve the situation.

Put simply, you have to decide whether you want victory by getting this dangerous practice stopped (which I believe is possible), or just a reason to whinge about French attitudes (which you will never change, so why try?).

"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

Let's approach this with wisdom and try to win on this. Like you, I believe there is risk of serious accident some day. The very fact that you have posted here means that no one can later claim "we didn't know".

I will personally take things a big step further and put everyone, from bus companies to local politicians, in front of their responsibilities. I should have done that when you initiated this subject months ago. I will also try to involve a couple of local French journalists who I know well.

In my role as editor-in-chief of the Riviera Reporter I am willing to approach the authorities on this - all of the authorities, from the local Deputies and Senator, to the Prefect himself.

I would like to specifically cite any reactions you have received back over the months that you have been concerned with this. Please email me a copy of anything you have received in response to your complaints and the dates (precise or approximate) and details of any phone conversations you may have had with anyone.

Which bus companies are at fault? Only TAM or others as well?

[MikeP]

Thank you Mike.

Clearly, I would like to get something done about this which is why I've raised the issue in the first place.  I'm glad it's attracted some attention, and I'm not just doing it because I like the sound of my own keyboard!  If people choose to break the law in such a manner as not interfere with the rights and security of others, I've no problem with that,  but when they break laws which are in place to protect us all, then it becomes a concern to all of us.  I feel that my life, and those of other road users, are put at risk by this dangerous practice.

This is not like being a schooolyard sneak,  I believe it's a duty to protect people from danger. Also,  as someone once pointed out to me, in France it's an offence NOT to report a crime being committed.  I realise that using a 'phone at the wheel is not a 'crime' but given the potentally serious consequences when a passenger bus or heavy lorry is involved, it is a serious matter.

You say my approach is partially counter-productive (for which I read 'antagonistic') and that is a fair comment but my approach to the bus operators has not revealed my prejudices against the French way of doing things, I have only stated that here. I do find it frustrating, discourteous, and irritating when a communication to a body which as a duty to serve the public is ignored or dismissed, and I am sorry to say but I do find that very French!  In particular, the aspect of attempting to criminalise and intimidate me for providing evidence of the bus drivers' blatant flouting of the law.

On a happier note,  I saw a (corrected: I said Afrox which is the South African equivalent) Primagaz  lorry laden with gas bottles being driven through Sophia recently and I contacted Primagaz through their website and had an immediate and positive response which was followed up with a contact to the company whom they subcontract for transport.  I was kept informed and thanked at all stages. This is what I expect.

The incident with the 500 bus was related to me by a friend, he relayed the correspondence to me.  He, of course, does not wish to raise his head above the parapet, like so many people, but would be the first to whine if someone close to him were hurt.

'All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing'

I will dig out all the appropriate correspondence I have had with TAM and Envibus relating to this matter over a period of time, and let's commence battle!

In the last few months I've hardly used buses, but when I did, have not seen any drivers using mobiles. Whether this is due to an improvement in behaviour or not I can't say, as my usage has been too small to be valid.

Edited to add that one of the reasons I've used the buses less is that they seem to be on strike more often than not, I have just heard some are on strike again today.

Edited by MikeP, 26 June 2012 - 14:33.

[Mike Meade]

So, we should first establish whether this practice has indeed been stopped or not.

We'd look pretty foolish complaining about something that has been quietly dealt with.

What date was your friend's incident with the 500 bus?

[MikeP]

It hasn't been stopped. A friend told me last week that she was on a 230 from the airport and was 'terrified' that the driver was using his phone whilst driving at speed on the A8.   She won't report it 'in case he gets into trouble' (he bloody well should) and she won't or can't give me enough detail to be able to do so myself.  Unfortunately she's not the sort of person who is prepared to confront anyone.

The incident with the 500 bus was the 19h00 service from Grasse to the airport on Thursday 26th April. I was only made aware of this 2 weeks ago.

[News]

How logical is THIS?

http://www.forum.rivierareporter.com/topic/2279-e135-fine-for-using-mobile-while-riding-velo-bleu/

[VarLady]

This must be a 06 problem. I use VarLib buses almost daily and I have never seen a driver use a mobile while driving. Maybe that's because many of the drivers are women and we are more responsible. Sorry guys!

[MikeP]

Women in general probably are more law abiding, and I have never seen any of the lady bus drivers using their phones whilst on the move.  On the other hand I notice that the majority of car drivers whom I see using their 'phones are female, particularly appalling when, as is often the case, they have a car full of children.