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A Boston trolley operator who rear-ended another trolley Friday night because he was text-messaging his girlfriend has ruined cell-phone chatting for everyone at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which has now instructed workers to leave their cell phones at home. 49 people were injured in the collision, which is just the latest example of train wrecks caused by distracted operators—last September a Union Pacific Freight train engineer in California was found to have sent his last text message about a minute before killing 25 people, including himself, in a horrible accident. Now LIRR officials here in New York say they're considering a ban on employees' cell phones, too. Currently, LIRR engineers, who operate the trains, are permitted to bring their personal cell phones on board, but they must be shut off and stowed in a bag. A simpler alternative to an outright ban would be for the LIRR to just hire John Clifford, the famous LIRR cell phone scold, to crack some skulls. Photo courtesy threecee’s Flickr.
After Boston Crash, LIRR May Ban Engineers' Cell Phones
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I don't really understand how when someone does something exceptionally bad, the knee-jerk reaction is to look for a ban that affects people who haven't done anything wrong.
How about actually enforcing the ban on *using* a cellphone while working on the train? Just an idea.
Unenforceable. They're not about to pat down all the train operators everyday.
How about a cell phone ban on postal workers (only @ the PO), teachers, cops, and anyone in service industry WHILE THEY ARE SERVING?
some LIRR engineers' egos won't adhere to such a ban....
"What if Muslims fly another plane into a sky scraper in NYC, or release an anthrax bomb? how am I going to contact my family? This is endangering our lives [as union train drivers]. We will be contacting OSHA about the legality of this ban."
i favor banning cell phone usage by BOTH engineers and passengers, much like they've already banned boom-boxes and eating (not that they enforce the latter).
people that use the train as their personal phone booth and cafeteria should be made to ride on the roof or dragged behind the train, their choice.
"much like they've already banned boom-boxes and eating (not that they enforce the latter)."
The don't enforce it because it's not a rule. Eating and drinking (including drinking alchohol) are not prohibited on LIRR trains.
I don't understand why other people think drinking (alcohol) and eating on the LIRR and Metro-North is against the law.
But getting to the point, yes, ban cell phones from LIRR employees and ban talking on the phone for passengers. If they don't comply kick them off the train at the next stop.
Then replace the engineers with computers. No booty-calling, no daydreaming, no bullshit.
Bingo!
But no union dues. It would never fly.
How about Metro North? Are they going to ban cell phones for engineers? Would be scary if something like that happen here, especially on the Hudson Line where the train hugs the water.
The texting engineer in California worked for Metrolink, not Union Pacific.
They're at work, they shouldn't need to be texting anyone, so banning them is not a hardship. They're wildly overpaid. F**k 'em.