Shocking video shows bus driver making alleged bank transfer while driving in Brisbane

A bus driver has been suspended and an internal investigation is underway after he was filmed using his phone while in peak-hour traffic on a major Brisbane motorway. See the video.

Bus driver uses phone on Gateway motorway.

A Sunshine Coast-based FIFO worker has slammed a bus driver for using his phone to allegedly make an online payment while driving in peak-hour traffic on a major motorway in Brisbane.

Footage has emerged of a Con-X-ion airport transfer bus driver allegedly using their mounted phone to make a bank transfer while driving on the Gateway Mwy at Boondall on Friday, February 23.

Nambour resident Warren Smith was heading home to the Sunshine Coast after a FIFO stint when he spotted the driver of the bus using his phone while in peak-hour traffic on the busy motorway.

“So I thought I’d just take a little recording and as I was recording there he was doing a bank transfer, then he went into his messages, while driving a full bus,” Mr Smith said.

“A bit later on he changed lanes, cut a car off and they were honking at him, so he was just a bit of a reckless driver and wasn’t paying attention.”

While Mr Smith understands the need for commercial drivers to occasionally use their phone for work purposes, he blasted the driver for making the alleged online payment.

“The phone was on a mount in front of the driver and while I understand it’s not unethical for drivers to occasionally use their phone for work, they might have to check in along the way, but what he was doing was sending money and that would not be part of the job description I imagine.

“It’s ridiculous.”

Mr Smith said the most dangerous part of his job should not be the journey home.

“I explained to them I’m a FIFO worker, I help build transmission lines, a highly dangerous job, all over the country,” he said.

The driver of the bus looking at his phone while driving on the Gateway Mwy, Boondall on Friday, February 23. Picture: Supplied

“We use helicopters, a lot of dangerous equipment and the most dangerous part of my month away at work was the drive from the Brisbane Airport back to the Sunshine Coast.

“The most dangerous part of my job shouldn’t be the trip to and from the airport.”

While he received an apology and was offered a refund from the transfer company, he has vowed to use an alternative method of transport to work in future.

“I’m not going to use this service anymore, I’ll just catch the airtrain from the Nambour train station,” he said.

“It is an extra half-hour of travel, but it’s a lot cheaper and it is certainly going to be a lot safer.”

In a statement, Con-X-ion director Paul Stratton said the driver had been immediately suspended following an investigation into the incident.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Gateway Mwy, Boondall, on Friday, February 23. Picture: Supplied

“There was initial confusion as to which driver was involved in this incident as a third party contracted driver also provided one portion of the transfer for this client,” Mr Stratton said.

“After further investigation we have identified that the driver in question was a driver working for Conxion.

“Conxion does not tolerate any of our drivers driving in an unsafe or distracted manner and we are extremely disappointed with the action of the driver on this occasion.

“The driver involved has been immediately suspended and we will now follow our internal disciplinary process.”
The incident comes after a private school bus driver was filmed steering with his elbows and reading paperwork while behind the wheel of a school bus with children in his care.

Originally published as Shocking video shows bus driver making alleged bank transfer while driving in Brisbane