Boston Trolley Crash Blamed on Text-Messaging Driver

This will NOT be the last instance of a tragedy caused by a worker who didn’t take his responsibilities seriously -- and it will not be confined to public transit operators.

I think it’s important to identify root causes here. Sorry to say, I am not the first to notice a new level of immaturity in today’s workers. Specifically, employers are reporting 1) a decreased sense of accountability along with 2) an increased sense of entitlement. Think about it for one minute, and you begin to see that’s a dangerous combination: It doesn't even occur to people to put the needs of others before their own desires.

I’d go further, but the following, written by a high school teacher, does a better job than I ever could:

http://donaldgallinger.com/dons-blog/jack-from-missouri/12-my-self-of-steam.html

Unfortunately, I think imprisonment is necessary here. It may be unfair to the young driver, who perhaps was never taught a sense of social responsibility by the adults in his life. But neither were thousands of young people who are just entering the workforce. The only way to prevent future loss of life and limb may be to “shock and awe” these new workers.

Then, as a more permanent measure, we MUST start teaching kids better values.

'Hope Change will'......give me a frckn break.

tam...i agree wholeheartedly!!! i think this driver should be charged with 50 counts of vehicular assault.1 count for every person he caused injury to. until there's some semblense of accountability being placed upon these ppl that keep causing injury/death by their careless disregard, it will continue to happen

Gee lets think about this. Texting instead of doing what you get paid to do. Who did not think this was going to happen since the day it became available to the public? Make laws against texting while driving, and that will become another stimulus package. How many people have to die before new laws are put into place?

We have raised a generation of selfish inconsiderate slobs who think no farther than their own noses and who could care less about the consequences of their actions. They yack on cell phones and have their noses in their text messaging wherever they are and have no idea how to carry on a conversation with a live human being. This transit driver should spend the next 20 years in jail thinking of what his inattention ahs done.

anyone who is driving should be required to turn off cell phones- yes even the
ones that leave your hands free- it isn't the cell itself that is dangerous, except to
those on public transport that must listen to the ldiotic junk that passes an
conversation, but the fact that the driver's MIND is someplace else. It's been
proven in test after test that anyone who is talking, texting, playing on cell phones
is NOT paying attention to anything else. I would hope that all cell phones
would be collected from drivers on ALL public transport when they report for
duty each day and returned when they are finished driving. That's the only way
these people will be off the cells. Just because you can be in touch all day long,
doesn't mean you have to be or that you have anything important to say when you are.
It's too bad we can't go back to the days before cell phones, when you called
someone it was because you had something to say that was important- if someone
needed to get hold of someone who was at work they left messages to call back.
Much safer all the way around. I do own a cell phone which is rarely turned on or
used.

If caught first offense $200 fine and two points on license .Second lose of license for 6 months and $500 fine.After that jail ! >I live in Miami and these idiots may as well have their phone hanging off their car keys they cant go anywhere without talking or texting and I would love to see strict laws and HIGH INSURANCE cost for these morons !They jeopardise everyone's life with their stupid conversations.What you doin ? nuttin what you doin ? nuttin.what you goin do ? nuttin what you goin do ? nuttin.IDIOTS with technology !

because we live in a ME world these idiots that have to be on a phone while driving will only stop if MADE to stop by fines high insurance cost and then jail.I dont want my life or family's life endangered by some idiots whos conversation or texting while driving puts people in danger !I scraped the whole side of a porsche when this stupid broad was over in my lane more than a foot.I have a old truck and am sick of watching out for these idiots so I smashed the side of her car and she said I was at fault while she blinked her baby blues at the cop who was making his move when he said it was a he said she said accident >I said no Huck that dog wont hunt.She was on the phone in my lane and I was in total control of my truck and my lane and I will have my lawyer get her cell phone record to prove she was on the phone when she HIT ME ! That was the end of that and she payed for my truck !

Why do people want to type on a phone? Phones are for talking. . .idiots

This texting and cell calling sorry to sound Trekie but sounds like the Borg I HAVE TO BE CONNECTED This will all end once a lawyer gets a judgement agaisnt the cell phone provider Cell calling and Texting is more dangerous than drunk drinking AAA study

Now if they would ban all cell phone use by all persons on public transportation that would be great, and yes i do own one however i would not impose on others to listen to my conversations and make them feel as if they were in my private phone booth.you want to yak on the phone walk don t infringe on all the rest of our rights to not have to listen to you go on and on or better yet wait till you get to a more private place for that incessant unneeded banter and that goes for both male and female

If you have something better to do other than the job for which you are being paid to perform [most of us usually feel that we do], stay at home and do it or anything else that pleases you. Once you enter the workplace, you are being paid for your time and undivided attention to the tasks at hand. At a time when even dreadful jobs are at a premium, only a true fool would do otherwise. The same rule applies now that was valid when I first started working 50 years ago: "When you sign the FRONT of the check, you do as you please; when you sign the BACK of the check, you do as you are told". Now more than ever, there is someone waiting for the chance to admirably perform the job that seems to be cramping your style! Now, SIGN OFF THE INTERNET AND GET BACK TO WORK!

This all just stems from the ridiculous law that cell phones are being outlawed to talk, he could have had the dang thing to his face and had his eyes open to see what he was doing.

TO ALL WHO KNOW LAWYERS AND JUDGES: isn't it time our nation makes a law that says ANYONE CAUGHTDRIVING TEXTING WILL GO TO JAIL six months. NOTHING LESS...not 3 weeks and off on good behavior, but SIX MONTHS . Why? beacuse this law can make people not text and kill. This is going to get out of hand, ESPECAILLY ON THE LA FREEWAYS. how many have to die to get a law passed. this isn't cute or funny for idiot teens; its a diaster waiting to happen.

True Dat encornomor, go girl!

OMG what makes people think that cell phone use of any type in the workplace is OK? Its not.. The employers need to take a stand and declare the work zone a cell free area. There is NO ONE so important that they need to be in constant contact with others. Remember we still have land lines in the case of an emergency...

That subterranian fellow is typical of a type of lower eschelon creature that walks this earth, their kind needs to be exterminated.

I guess some people will never learn. That guy SHOULD lose his job. What in the world is wrong with people? Is using your brain now optional, or are some people really that stupid?!