Cell Phones Banned After Massachusetts Trolley Crash
Published by Jo Oliver on May 15, 2009 in USA & CanadaArticle Tools
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Hurray for Massachusetts!
Many employers have banned the (on duty) use of cell phones. However, what does it really accomplish to ban the use of something, but not the something itself?
The use of cell phones has long been prohibited by many transit departments. But, without banning the actual cell phone, it hasn’t stopped drivers and operators from giving in to the temptation of using the devices. Furthermore, without harsh penalties for breaking cell phone device rules, there isn’t any incentive to adhere to the rules anyway. Hundreds of thousands of commuters are entrusting their safety to these drivers. Yet, accidents seem to be occurring more and more often due to someone preoccupied with a cell phone.
On Friday, Aiden Quinn, a 24 year old Boston, Massachusetts operator was texting his girlfriend when he crashed his Green Line Trolley into another stopped trolley. Over 50 people had to go to the hospital after the crash. This time everyone was lucky and there wasn’t any life threatening injuries, but the situation could have very easily been catastrophic. Just last May another Green Line operator was killed following a crash that was reportedly due to the her using a cell phone. Mr. Quinn only suffered a shattered wrist. None the less, Mr. Quinns’ call was an expensive one. The estimated damages were upwards of $9 million dollars. Of course, the Green Line was also shut down for the entire weekend.
Mr. Quinn is refusing to speak with NTSB investigators and failed to attend meetings set up with MBTA officials. Quinn has hired an attorney, Michelle Menken, who says that she has advised him not to talk with investigators as long as he faces criminal charges for the accident. She also says that he would like to help investigators, but he hasn’t been offered any incentives or legal protection to do so. He has until May 15, 2009 to meet with officials or face termination.
Officials are not waiting around for another accident though. On May 13, 2009, Massachusetts transportation officials announced that Boston mass-transit drivers would no longer be allowed to even carry cell phones or other digital communication devices. A hot line will be set up so that family and friends of drivers can contact them in an emergency. MBTA street car, train, and bus drivers caught with any cell phone device while on duty will face a ten day suspension for the first offence and a thirty day suspension for a second offense. There will also be a recommendation for discharge after the second offense. Anyone caught actually using the device will automatically be suspended for thirty days and have a discharge recommendation.
I commend Massachusetts for having the courage to be the first to ban the possession of cell phones by public transit drivers and operators. Hopefully, this will set a model for other states to follow and eliminate this dangerous distraction.
19 Comments
I truly believe not only are cell phones basically useless except for emergency situations,and the cause more emergencies than they have reported.Here we have a law that you can’t use them while driving,you must have a hands free device,but the fact remains that they are a distraction,and thay take away from the ability of the driver.
Just lucky nobody got killed. You can see when you’re behind someone and they are on the phone how distracted they get.
they should have some way of communicating with the dispatch office for emergencies but other than that they dont need cell phones – nobody REALLY does, we just think we do.
Let it serve as a lesson to us all.
Where I live there is a law about talking on them when you drive,they do anyway.A hands free device isnt much better but you really dont need a cell then.If it wasnt for my job and a grandchild with seizers,I wouldnt have one.They are rather annoying.But though people got injured,im glad no one was killed.
I agree with you, Jo. This will be a good lesson for all.
This is a good lesson that every of us have to learn. It’s been used beyond the REAL meaning behind the cell phones.
Once again, I have to remind everyone that police officers use similar devices every day, all day, while driving at high rates of speed even. If we ban the use of these type devices for civilians, we should ban them for law enforcement as well. There is no reason to ban talking devices, just train the idiots that use them to use them properly. The problem with our society today is that we take things away because of the few rather than reward the many. This is an example of one of those cases. I would quit my job if they told me I couldn’t keep in contact with my family when and how I see fit….OH I DID! Taking rights away is not the answer-education is the key….EDUCATE them how to use them properly and give them the proper equipment to do so. STOP taking away my rights because someone else did something stupid.
Great article, informing us all of this. I havent heard of this incident, just goes to show how dangerous Cell Phones can be.
That’s frightening, mobiles are a huge distraction while driving and are banned while driving in the UK but people still use them. Good article, it was fortunate no-one was killed..
Thank you all for the comments!
JL- We have agreed way too long I guess…LOL!
There is a big difference between law officers using radios to communicate with other officers about job related issues, and public transportation operators using a cell phone to text their girl/boyfriend. One is necessary to the job….the other is not.
There isn’t any way to train or educate someone about texting or talking on a cell phone while driving a train, bus, trolley, cab etc.. If you are looking down reading a message, typing, etc.. then there is no way that you are alert and doing your job. Maybe only 1 in every 100 people will have an accident while distracted, but it is still an unnecessary risk to take while other people are PAYING you to get from A-Z safely.
Keep in mind I am not talking about what people do in their own private cars. That is their business. But, we pay these drivers salaries by riding public transportation, and WE have the right to demand that they focus on the task we are paying them for. We are not paying them to talk to their loved ones. We are paying them to drive.
It is against the law where I live to use your cell phone while driving.
It is also against the law here too to talk on cell phones without hands free device and drive.
Great article, Jo Oliver. All states should take this stand against cell phones while operating a public transportation vehicle.
It takes a couple of irresponsible drivers to spoil it for the ones who do the right thing..that’s Murphy’s Law isn’t it?
great article that open our eyes to the danger of using a cell phone the wrong way.. In our place, many cases ar reported about car accidents involving drivers busy with their phones while driving.
A great informative article that will make everyone more aware.
This is a good article, Jo. I think it’s a great idea to ban them for public transport workers if they simply won’t stop using them- I’d punch a bus driver in the back of the head if I saw them texting while driving. Assault charge, my eye! (lol)
I like cell phones- a lot. All the info in the world, & constant connection to everyone I know and love sitting in my purse. It’s the introvert’s best friend- fully optional, easily replaced, easy to transfer the info elsewhere. I put my reading list on mine, that way I remember what to get at the library…& I listed all my books on my phone, so I don’t buy any repeats.
Yes. I am a nerd.
People just shouldn’t talk while driving. All good things in moderation, know what I mean?
Again, great article Jo.
i still remember my first cell phone. i was 16, and it was one of those huge units that couldn’t go more than a few feet from the car. i actually had to keep a separate part time job just to pay for the damn thing. and lord, did i think i was cool.
Having 3 kids and a career, i am aware that they are a necessary evil, but that doesn’t change the fact that on top of being a huge safety hazard, theyre also playing a huge part of the 1984-ing of our society. orwell must be smirking somewhere.