Thousands of notifications of mobile-using bus drivers throughout the country

SVT News Örebro has sent a survey to all regional transport companies and regions in the country. There we asked how many travelers who heard from them that bus drivers used mobile phones in traffic in 2019.

It may be that the drivers talked on the phone when driving, but also sent messages or surfed on social media.

The companies in the metropolitan regions have received most such cases. For example, SL received 1327 cases and Västtrafik 1005 pieces. Outside the big cities, the bus drivers who drive to Örebro Länstrafiken were the most notified.

A total of 75 complaints are reported.

- It is not acceptable at all. I think that's far too much, said Fredrik Eliasson, public transport manager at Örebro County when SVT reported on the reports in Örebro county.

SVT also asked if the county transport companies and regions asked for a penalty sometime last year for a bus driver using a mobile phone while driving.

Only five out of a total of 21 regions and county transport companies had done so.

Some state that they have not even written the opportunity to request a penalty in the agreements with the bus companies.

The Jönköping County Region has that opportunity and they requested a penalty 28 times last year for bus drivers to use a mobile phone when driving.

"It has a little calming effect, but the general debate that is up now is having more effect," says Charles Tholin, business developer at Jönköping County Traffic.