Not having cellphone allowed Michigan boy to save runaway bus from crashing

[marmar]

Not having cellphone allowed US boy to save runaway bus from crashing
While other students on the bus were engrossed with their devices, Dillon Reeves noticed the driver in distress and guided bus to safety


(Guardian UK) A Michigan boy who recently stopped a school bus from crashing after the driver lost consciousness leapt into action because he was the only passenger not distracted by an electronic device, according to a new report from CBS.

On Sunday, two weeks after seventh-grader Dillon Reeves regained control of a school bus when its driver became unconscious, the network reported that the boy’s parents’ refusal to provide him a cellphone paid off in a big way.

Dillon’s father, Steve, told CBS: “What else are you going to do when you don’t have a phone? You’re going to look at people, you’re going to notice stuff. You’re going to look out the window. It’s a very powerful lesson, maybe a change-the-world kind of lesson.”

In the CBS report, several passengers on the bus with Dillion – who are the equivalent of year eight in the UK – revealed that they were immersed in their electronic devices when their driver began to lose consciousness as they were being driven home from school on 26 April.

....(snip)....

Dillon’s parents said their son’s heroic actions are reason enough to hold off on getting him a phone even more.

When asked by CBS to comment on his parents’ decision to withhold from giving him a phone even longer, Dillon shrugged and said: “Whatever. My parents are old school.” ...........(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/14/michigan-boy-saved-school-bus-no-cellphone

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. I wonder if he was a farm kid? They can drive anything. nt

[Cattledog]

2. But it was a kid with a cell phone who called 911...

so phones played a role as well.

[Cha]

4. yeah, it was Cool the

kid who grabbed the wheel shouted out to call 911!!

[highplainsdem]

8. Which could have been done just as well with an old dumb flip phone

that wouldn't have distracted them with social media.

[Mariana]

43. I always read a book during the bus ride.

I wouldn't have been paying any more attention than the kids with the phones.

[CTyankee]

16. Nobody managed to call 911 before cell phones? HOW DID WE SURVIVE???

DID WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT EACH OTHER WHEN WE TALKED?

[cstanleytech]

19. Rather complicated answer. In the urban areas its rather easy to get assistance as getting to a

house of business with a working phone is rather easy.
In the more rural areas though getting to a phone in time could be a bit more challenging so in those areas cellphones can literally be a lifesaver.

[tenderfoot]

30. Oh! Burn!

[Cha]

3. I saw that vid.. it was Awesome!

that makes sense he was watching the bus driver.

[highplainsdem]

9. Thanks for posting this, Cha!

[Cha]

12. You're Welcome, hpd!

[IbogaProject]

10. He had watched multiple days

So he had some idea how to operate it. It was an automatic and he went right for the brake.

[Cha]

13. TY.. I had read that... the kid

was brilliant! Quick Thinking..

Right for the brakes!

[canetoad]

22. And he took no shit either

"SOMEONE - call 911".

[Cha]

26. Noticed! "I Don't Care.. Call 911!!

Wonder what the other kid said?

Be great to get a follow up!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. This young man is a hero

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Bravo, Dillon!

Quick thinking young man.

[lpbk2713]

7. Get the poor kid a phone.

Just tell him he can't take it to school. The other kids must think he's an oddball.

[llmart]

14. What a ridiculous take on things.

[Cha]

28. +1

[CountAllVotes]

33. I do not have a phone

I don't want one, that is why.

My life is complicated enough already.

Does this mean I am an oddball too?

[Demsrule86]

35. I can't imagine not having a phone

Technology is what you make of it. There are few landlines these days and who cares?

[CountAllVotes]

46. I care!

I have a landline.

It costs me $11.00 a month (low income).

Frankly, I cannot afford a phone besides not wanting one.

Its fine w/me!

[JI7]

15. Sounds like it should be the other way around and people should try

to learn from him.

[Demsrule86]

36. Why? Do you thing buggy whip manufacturers

Can enlighten us somehow? Time marches on.

[Rebl2]

23. Real nice thing to say about the child

His parents are wise. Maybe they want him to be a little older before he has a phone.

[JI7]

39. Yes, they never said he can't or should never have a phone

[brewens]

11. Not surprising. The kid did a great job but could have just yanked the yellow brake knob

to stop the bus. He got his foot on the brake pedal and stopped it that way.

[brooklynite]

17. So, should we get rid of books as well?

Anything that might be "distracting"?

[edisdead]

31. Right?

I find the entire premise of this article completely stupid. And I am a school bus driver.

[brooklynite]

32. Off for the good old days when people weren't distracted by technology...

[obamanut2012]

42. I do, too

It is a ridiculous, clickbaity article.

[Demsrule86]

37. That is a good point.

[Rebl2]

40. Actually years

ago-before cell phones-I saw people driving and reading newspapers or books once in a great while.

[Mariana]

44. Lotta old folks love to denigrate the young people.

I posted upthread that I always used to read a book on the bus. I wouldn't have been paying any attention to the driver.

[70sEraVet]

18. I assumed most counties hire assistants for the bus drivers.

Instead of counting on there always being one kid without a cellphone, maybe they should pony up the money to hire assistants.

[ancianita]

20. A touching story. Analog world can see what's important. Digital world gets info and help.

Each can help the other?

[Rebl2]

24. In our area

which is a large metro area with many suburbs, they can’t hire enough school bus drivers. People don’t seem to want the job.

[vanlassie]

25. That's airplanes.

[70sEraVet]

27. Well, yeah, on planes they're called copilots. But they have School Bus Aides, or Attendants

But i got a good chuckle out of that!

[Demsrule86]

38. Not anywhere I ever lived.

[JI7]

41. No, Most don't have assistants. Maybe in cases of special needs kids

but even in those cases they are usually working for the specific kid or kids and not a bus assistant.

[edisdead]

47. Usually only on sped routes where I work.

Usually only on sped routes where I work. We can’t even hire enough drivers at $27-$31/hr.

[enki23]

21. Imagine the stupid kids who walked or rode bikes to school

Those kids will *never* be prepared to stop a runaway school bus at this rate

[Torchlight]

29. Taking the school bus as a kid

I usually had my nose buried in a book or a comic book. I'm pretty sure I would have missed the driver's condition it as well.


Job well done, Dillon.

[Mariana]

45. Well, that's totally different. Somehow.

[Demsrule86]

34. That is ridiculous. There is nothing wrong with

Cellphones…

[edisdead]

48. Technophobes that wabt people to luve the way they did.

Because it was somehow better that way.

I want my kids to master and enjoy the shit out any new tech.