Lookout For Those Loco Drivers

[3Phase]

Apparently it's not just people pretending to drive cars, trucks and SUVs while using their mobiles phones that are causing accidents.

The train wreck in Chatsworth yesterday that has killed 25 people so far may have been caused by the Metrolink engineer texting while driving his locomotive.

To borrow a phrase, "I'm gobsmacked!"


Scott (missing few neighbors this evening)

[Pat Kelly]

I was in Chatsworth at 6 to 7 pm on Thurs (9/11), glad I missed it. Last year when they had the big-rig pile-up in the I-5 truck bypass tunnel in L.A., I missed that by 15 minutes (whew).

[3Phase]

Yikes! Glad you missed out on that one!

I try to leave the trucking brethren alone when possible and I stay out of truck tunnels and off of their bypasses.

It bothers me when I see cars and bikes using them.

Riding on freeways bears an uncanny resemblance to ice skating inside the barrels of a large naval gun battery and trying to stay ahead of the projectiles.


Regards,

Scott

[thewiz]

ice skating inside the barrels of a large naval gun battery and trying to stay ahead

You said a mouthful there, Scott.

[03mach1]

Illegal here in NY to talk on Cell phones while driving without the hands free.

I like the people that use the Speakphone and hold it in front of them, that's not hands free.

[ClarkGriswald]

What bothers me is that we went from painting on cave walls and stone tablets, smoke signals ect to mail, then telegraph WOW!.. then holy cow!! telephone you can actually speak realtime to someone over long distances.. wow again wireless telephones how innovative!!.. so whats the next step in its evolution? typing??? is it me or is something messed up there??

Whats next wireless stone tablets??? someone driving down the road chipping away at a piece of marble, pull into your driveway and it takes em 10 min to come into the house cause they were out there finishing up before they chip "send".

Wireless smoke signals would be smart lets do that. How about a cellphone that opens up and you pull out a beer cup on a piece of kite string and hold it tight between your ear and the phone.. ... or I could just call ya up and play some drums.

[egsols]

Illegal here in NY to talk on Cell phones while driving

Yeah..great...now people don't want to get caught talking on the damn things they "text" while driving, instead. Much safer.....not.

[rman]

No matter how hard goverments try they can not legislate away stupidity.

[TopCatGr58]

Saw on the news tonight that possibly the reason he was texting, was that some kid/train enthusiasts on the side of the tracks were the ones texting TO the Engineer, and so he was possibly replying to them...telling them how he runs the train or such!?

What gets me is when I see COPS driving their rigs and on the Cell!?
T.C.

[egsols]

Hey TC,

Every heard the phrase "do as I say, not as I do"??

[3Phase]

Okay, this is stupid. In California, sending text messages is not "specifically prohibited," it's "strongly discouraged."

California DMV Wireless Telephone Laws FAQs:-

Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature, can I use that?
A: No. The law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a "push-to-talk" feature. However, a push-to-talk feature attached to a hands-free ear piece or other hands-free device is acceptable.

Q: What other exceptions are there?
A: Operators of an authorized emergency vehicle during the course of employment[1] are exempt, as are those motorists operating a vehicle on private property.

DRIVERS 18 AND OVER

Q: Does the new "hands-free" law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?
A: Yes.

Q: Does the new "hands-free" law allow drivers 18 and over to text message while driving?
A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer's opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Sending text messages while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

In California you can text while driving until a police officer happens to notice that, in his or her opinion, you're driving like you're texting while driving...
just one more thing ol' Hans Brinker here (NOT!) has to watch out for to avoid becoming the highway equivalent of CLP or Slim Pickens.

I wonder if it's the same in the heavy tomes of rules and regulations for loco drivers, aircraft pilots, ship pilots, and so on and so forth.

Hey, Clark, how about some drums?


Regards,

Scott

1. That would include the police.

[DiverRay]

Scott,
The FEDERAL LAW prohibits Loco engineers from the cell phone while on duty, and so does the Metro policy. We ALL know what happened when the engineer DIDN'T obey that!!

[3Phase]

Originally posted by DiverRay
Scott,
The FEDERAL LAW prohibits Loco engineers from the cell phone while on duty, and so does the Metro policy. We ALL know what happened when the engineer DIDN'T obey that!!

Thanks, Ray! Yep. Among all of the others one of the retired teachers I know that my mom used to work with didn't make it home because of it.




Regards,

Scott

[BrianB]

Last week I was backing out of my parking spot at work and I was completely out of my spot and Slam, a lady from HR ran right into my bright red 3/4 ton truck. You guessed it she was on a cell phone and in a big hurry. So I call the local authorities and was surprised when they showed up so fast for a non emergency and on private property. The thing that killed me was he was talking on his personal cell phone and kept us waiting for over 20 minutes before he ended his call and got out of his car. Almost every time I see a cop, yup their on their Cell phone.

[3Phase]

Originally posted by BrianB
Almost every time I see a cop, yup their on their Cell phone.

Everyone and his dog has a scanner and secure radio nets are expensive.

It is much more difficult to listen in on cellular phone calls and a group cellular plan is probably less expensive than licensing new frequencies from the FCC; buying, siting, powering and maintaning new radios and their associated infrastructure; training/hiring officers, operators and maintenence staff; falling back to non-secure mode and giving away the game when the secure system inevitably floats to the top of the tank.

Or the officers could be calling up their wives, girlfriends, bookies, and ordering pizzas just like everyone else....


Regards,

Scott