WASHINGTON -- Metrobus operators have been disciplined hundreds of times for speeding, running red lights and striking pedestrians since 2004. During the same time period, many drivers have been caught driving while distracted, including one case where a bus operator was watching television behind the wheel.

Documents obtained by WTOP through a public records request show that since 2004, bus operators have racked up almost 400 violations for running red lights, as well as 260 speeding violations. In one instance, a bus operator was driving 59 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per- hour zone.

Numerous recent violations and accidents have caused Metro to review and rewrite the Metrobus safety handbook. Additionally, a new zero tolerance policy on using cell phones while at the controls went into effect for train and bus operators.

Metro's Board Chairman Jim Graham tells WTOP the numerous violations are serious.

"I'm very concerned." Graham says.

"I'm very concerned about every infraction, every violation everything that puts a passenger or anyone else into jeopardy of an accident or collision. All of this is of great concern to us, there's no doubt about it."

Graham says he want Metro riders to e-mail him if they see drivers or operators behaving in an unsafe or unprofessional manner.

"Just Google Jim Graham and you can get my personal e-mail.

"Send me any incident you feel should be brought to the attention of management, and I'll make sure it's brought to the attention of management."

Despite the increased scrutiny on bus operators, even the most basic traffic laws are not being followed on a daily basis.

Monday, WTOP watched as Metobuses in Northwest repeatedly violated agency and traffic rules and laws. In one case at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Porter Street, a Metrobus pulled into a bus stop, yet left its tail in another lane of traffic, blocking cars.

Metro General Manager John Catoe has specifically instructed bus operators not to leave their back ends in other lanes of traffic.

In another blatant infraction, a Metrobus on the 96 Route rolled through a stop sign and crosswalk at the intersection of Idaho Avenue and Newark Street in Northwest. Two pedestrians were about to enter the crosswalk as the bus rolled through. The pedestrians waited for the bus to safely pass, then walked through the crosswalk.

It is violations like these which have led to train and bus operators being put under the microscope. In many cases, the riding public now routinely monitors drivers, even taking pictures to document bad behavior.

"We know that we want to keep getting better, and we will," says Emeka Moneme, Metro's chief administrative officer.

Moneme is responsible for disciplining Metro employees.

"One of the things we want to do is make sure the punishment reflects the offense. That's the review and discussion that we are having at the management level."

Just last week, the union that represents Metro train and bus operators, Amalgamated Transit Union local 689, issued an advisory to all members to work "to the rule."

A statement on the union's Web site reads, "Now is the time for us to protect ourselves and our jobs! Perform all duties strictly by the S.O.P.'s (Standard Operating Procedures). Don't give Metro any reason to write us up, suspend us, or fire us anymore."

Meanwhile, Jackie Jeter, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, has responded to WTOP's report.

In a press release, Jeter writes that "safety has always been our primary concern" and says worker infractions have decreased since 2007:

"According to data presented in WTOP and WJLA reports, the majority of employee infractions took place between 2004 through 2006. Approximately one quarter of these infractions took place over the past three years, indicating a sharp decrease in the number operator violations compared to the previous three years. Of the twenty-one categories of infractions reported, fifteen categories reflect drops in violations since 2007. And in eleven of the categories there were significant decreases from 2007 to the present. We attribute this to the union raising the workers' level of awareness in regard to safety and working to the SOPs. The cooperative relationship that the union has with WMATA is also a factor."

Jeter also says union members and officials meet with WMATA department heads as part of a Joint Labor Management Health and Safety Committee.

"The committee's goal has been to raise management's awareness of health and safety issues and allow for an open and fair exchange leading to joint resolutions," Jeter writes.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All rights reserved.)