The National Transportation Safety Board is seeking new rules that would ban bus drivers from using cell phones.

The NTSB is blaming a bus driver’s chat on a hands-free device for a 2004 crash that injured 11 students. The board said it lacked comprehensive data to establish a clear link between cell phone use and traffic accidents. But it said there’s enough evidence to suggest that riders would be better off if drivers had one less distraction on the road.

Gosh, you think?

It’s hard to believe that “motor coach” and school bus drivers aren’t already barred from using cell phones.

For the record, we don’t want taxi drivers, train conductors, ferry captains or airplane pilots to be on a phone call while operating their machinery, either. Oh, and same for operators of cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, bikes, skateboards and anything else with wheels or wings.