This only occurred to me now 27 years later, but why isn't super cop Keanu Reeves driving the bus? For the most part he's just standing around in the bus, seems unlikely that he'd risk everyone's lives including his own to some random chick on the bus with unknown driving skills.
shareBecause he had to coordinate the situation. If he had to drive and concentrate on not going below 50, he couldn't help to get everyone out of there. She took over when the driver got shot and he saw she did alright, maybe his own driving skills weren't that great.
shareKinda hard to remain focused on the other passengers and figuring a way out of the situation if he's also driving the bus. Why fix what isn't broken? Bullocks character took over when the driver got shot and was doing fine. No need to change it.
shareIt's kinda hard to remain focused if you're dead. The driving had no margin for error. It worked for the purpose of the love story, but in reality the cop would be driving the bus.
shareHow would he able to check the bomb if he was driving? How would he able to constantly be talking to the other cops driving next to him? How would he make sure every passenger was following his directions? He could do all of that while driving the bus?
You answered your own question then. Its not reality. Its a movie.
He could tell sandra to do all that
shareHe could tell Sandra's character to check the bomb? Really? You think that's something she could do as well as him? A police officer with experience and familiarity with bombs vs a random civilian?
shareThe guy is a SWAT team member who has dealt with bombs before.
shareYou really are a sexist pig, aren't you?
Because she just kind of ended up in that seat after Sam got shot, and did a great job early on, so she just stayed there. And it gave Jack the ability to talk to Max, and bomber, as well as coordinate other things that were going on. Also now he can get a look at the bomb as well as try to disarm it.
But yes IRL another officer would have gotten on board and taken over driving.
Upon retrospect, it probably would have been more realistic with Keanu taking over the driving the bus and then when they are past all the craziness in the street with the intersections and traffic lights--once they get back onto the freeway, then he asks Sandra to take over so he can go over the tactical situation. Of course, asking her at that point if she is capable of keep the speed of the bus over 50.
share