More than a quarter of car-service drivers for NYC Transit’s paratransit program text or talk on their cellphones when transporting disabled passengers, a new survey from the MTA Inspector General’s Office revealed.
Undercover investigators with the Paratransit Safety and Performance Unit found that from August 2012 to June 2013, 28 percent of drivers were on their cellphones while driving, 36 percent drove dangerously and 6 percent were seen speeding.
Drivers also failed to report accidents and passenger injuries to NYC Transit, the report notes.
The Access-A-Ride program, which has a $446 budget and boasted an annual ridership of 6.8 million in 2012, has provided rides to the disabled since 1993. Riders book trips in advance and pay $2.50 per ride, while the MTA pays $67.33 on average per trip.
Corporate Transportation Group, which oversees the cars, declined to comment Saturday.