TTC bus driver caught texting while driving

TORONTO – A Toronto Transit Commission bus driver faces possible dismissal after a passenger snapped a photo of him texting behind the wheel.

The man who snapped the photo says the bus was carrying about 30 people on Weston Road on Wednesday afternoon, at a speed of 50 kilometres an hour.

TTC spokesman Brad Ross says it’s a serious breach of public safety and commission rules.

Ross says the driver has been identified and he will be facing disciplinary action.

He says not only is texting while driving illegal, it’s a safety issue and something the TTC takes "extremely seriously."

Texting while driving has been banned on Ontario roads since October 2009 and violators face fines of up to $500.

"It is not only illegal, of course, to text and drive or to talk on your cellphone and drive, but it also violates our policy, which is a long-standing policy and it’s based solely on safety," Ross said.

He added while dismissal is possible, he would not speculate on the outcome of the disciplinary process.

"But what I will say is that we view this and take this matter extremely seriously."

Mike Schmitz, the passenger who took the photo, says he doesn’t want the driver to be dismissed.

"I don’t want to see anyone lose their job over this, but I don’t want to see people keep texting and driving either," he said.

Schmitz says no one on the bus spoke to the driver.

It’s not the first time the TTC has taken a hit from a member of the public taking a photo.

Last January, two fare collectors were photographed sleeping on the job.

And a passenger shot video when a driver took a prolonged coffee break while the bus and passengers were left idling.