May 19 2009
Cell Phone Ban For Transit Drivers A Good Idea
Tagged Under : automobile accidents, bus accident, cell phone, kentucky, mass transit, texting
Bus drivers, train conductors and street car operators are now banned from even carrying a cell phone while they are working and operating the mass transportation vehicle in the state of Massachusetts. This ban went into affect last Wednesday and is reported to be the toughest restrictions put into place by a mass transit agency. Penalties are a 30 day suspension with a recommendation of dismissal for anyone caught talking on a cell phone or texting. I t is a 10 day suspension if you are caught with a cell phone while at work. These rules are response to a trolley accident in a tunnel where 49 people were injured. One of the drivers was texting his girl friend at the time of the accident.
Any distraction that occupies you while you are supposed to be driving is dangerous. Texting and driving is just plain stupid. I was with friend last year who was so attached to his phone that he was responding to e-mails while speeding down the interstate. Luckily there have been no injuries as a result of his actions.
Has Massachusetts gone too far in totally banning cell phone use for mass transportation drivers? I think not. It should have been enacted sooner in every state. I think you will see this as a national trend and more and more states will impose similar bands and penalties, and rightfully so. These companies are held to a higher standard and are responsible for the actions of their employees. It can cost them millions of dollars if an accident is caused by a driver while texting, There may even be punitive damages awarded if they don’t take action to prevent this activity.
Unfortunately common sense has left our society when it comes to cell phone use. Whether it is texting and driving, talking on the phone while you are ordering food or letting the phone ring and sometimes even answering it in church we can not stand to be away from our cell phones and disconnected from the world. I applaud Massachusetts efforts. It is a shame that it took a horrible accident to make them enact the procedure. I hope that Kentucky and other states will follow their lead and enact similar rules in the very near future. It will prevent auto and bus accidents and save lives.
