State Board bans bus drivers from using cell phones

The Utah State Board of Education gave final approval Friday to a revision to its school bus operation rule that would ban operators from using a cell phone, wireless electronic device or other equipment that might distract them while driving the bus.

Use of cell phones and other electronic devices would be allowed once the bus was safely parked. In deference to a concern from the Utah School Employees Association, the Board agreed that if the bus was safely parked and secured and passengers off the bus, a driver could use a cell phone even if the bus was parked on the road.

—Amy K. Stewart