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We've seen people caught texting while driving cars, buses, motorcycles, and trains. We can now add to that list: texting in a trolley. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced over the weekend that a 24-year-old Boston trolley operator admitted to texting his girlfriend just before the trolley he was piloting slammed into another, injuring about 50 people, on Friday, May 8.The crash, which occurred within the Boston city limits, resulted in only minor injuries, but will likely cost the unnamed operator his job. Currently, the MBTA bans employees from using cell phones while working on a train or bus.
As a result of this trolley texting incident, the transit authority is pushing for banning bus and train operators from even carrying cell phones while on duty. Official argue that it's not essential for operators to carry cell phones, because most passengers carry cell phones that can function as a back up to radio in case of emergency.
While not as tragic as the train crash in California last year that killed 25, the collision in Boston serves to prove that people just don't learn. We hope that the operator, at least, takes something away from it: He broke his wrist in the crash, suffering the worst injury during Friday's incident.
[From: Boston Globe and AP/JacksonSun.com]
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Comments
32
Subscribe to commentsAOL SUCKSMay 12th 2009 1:32PM
I love the way these a$$holes learn to text message and operate a vehicle at our expense. What a selfish, lazy, ignorant country we've become.
AngelaMay 12th 2009 1:45PM
Alcohol is legal, and just watch the ways people behave irresponsibly after imbibing. Cell phones are legal, and just watch the ways people behave irresponsibly with a cell phone. These are two of the overwhelming reasons I don't want to see marijuana legalized. The reason these things are so dangerous isn't the alcohol; it isn't the phone, it isn't the weed; it isn't responsible people. IT'S THE IRRESPONSIBLE IDIOTS we are forced to babysit who make it hard for us sensible adults.
AngelPam48May 12th 2009 1:56PM
The level of immaturity in today’s workers goes hand in hand with the way the World is now. The more we give our kids to grow up with, games, cell phones, texting capabilities, etc. the less respect they seem to have for anything or anyone. Sad!
GianelleMay 12th 2009 2:13PM
I am so so sick of constantly hearing people call my generation a bunch of lazy morons. According to older generations, we are amoral, rude, and stupid. Well, I'm sorry, but your parents generation felt the same way about you, and your grandparents generation felt the same way about them. You are not better people. You are not the elite. You are just older and wiser. I once had a teacher who believed in the rule of 5 percent: 5 percent is bad, 95 percent is just fine. But most people only see the 5 percent. So, please, stop calling us "selfish inconsiderate slobs" who "have no idea how to carry on a conversation with a live human being." Most of us are really decent people, which you would realize if you stopped judging and started interacting.
harmonybrushMay 12th 2009 3:50PM
I don't think they should ban cell phones entirely -- you never know. What if someone's wife was going into labor? what number would she call to let her husband/boyfriend know? I think that it's unfair to completely ban them. It should be that, unless you're expecting a very important call, then you should not be allowed to have one, but that in certain instances they should be permitted. I don't know that it's fair to blame the phone when the operator was foolishly playing with his phone when he was in charge of the safety and operation of a big machine and all its passengers.
RachelMay 12th 2009 2:03PM
It is about time something happened and an employer did something about it, The last two places I have workd at people still used their cells like they were at home. It is unprofessional to have that stupid thing attached to your hear like some teenager while at work. Good for MBTA. I think attimes cell phones have become the worst invention ever. People don't know how to turn off and unplug...
albertoMay 12th 2009 2:25PM
I think 20 years in jail is a bit extreme, but 5 years for minor incidents if your caught on the phone is about right. I drive for a compressed gas company and your not allowed to carry phones on you while operating the vehicle, let alone talk during working hours.we have two way radios on them, but we have to pull over to communicate, safety always takes precedence over all communication. I have to agree with the person who pointed out that todays young workers have a sense of entitlement and think their social life is more important than actually earning their paycheck. I pray for the day that when theres a cellular blackout so that I can see all these cell phone addicted drones scuury around like lost ants.
MICHELLEMay 12th 2009 2:12PM
Niki: driving is NOT a right. it is a privilege. Where or when did you get your license from that an 11 question test mostly about hand signals was the only requirement? I don't think most drivers today even know there are hand signals, except maybe for one rather crude one, that never was asked about on any drivers tests. Common sense DEFINITELY should be required - including not wearing an IPOD so you can hear sirens on emergency vehicles!
mitchMay 12th 2009 2:46PM
you idiots that use cell phones while you are driving need your a$$'s kicked in the worst way.
tnlinMay 12th 2009 3:26PM
A lot of the people on here complaining about the trolley operator, and rightfully so, will jump in their car and use their cell phones to text or talk on while driving and never think a thing of it. Driving is not something casual. It is important. You don't need to be doing other tasks. To be safe you need to keep up with traffic around you at all times. Where you are, where your next turn is. Your speed. The distance between you and the car ahead. Safe driving is hard work. Thirty thousand people a year die because we don't do a very good job of it.
tnlinMay 12th 2009 3:31PM
You may not think using a cell phone in your car affects your driving, but the people behind you can assure you that it does...
Ron ElstadMay 12th 2009 6:35PM
You can have all the laws in the world for incorrect cell phones use but if these laws aren't inforced people will just go on breaking these laws, and as fare as I'm concerned there isn't to much inforcement being done. Unfortunately, to a lot of people it's OK to do the wrong thing as long as they don't get caught.