Boston Trolley Accident Sadly Shows, Again, That Cell Phone Bans Alone Don't Really Work

from the accountability? dept

Tue, May 12th 2009 4:52am — Carlo Longino

The driver of a Boston trolley that caused a crash that injured about 50 people was apparently sending text messages at the time of the accident, despite a transit authority ban on such activity. This latest incident comes after the horrible crash in California last year that killed scores of people, in which the train conductor was said to be texting, and highlights how bans like this, whether covering the drivers of trains or cars, really aren't effective. A reasonably intelligent person driving a trolley or other mass-transit vehicle doesn't need a ban to tell them that texting while driving isn't such a good idea. If they aren't smart enough to figure that out, they're probably just going to ignore the ban anyway, like this driver in Boston, undermining the point of the rule. Again, it goes back to personal responsibility, something that politicians and rulemakers won't be able to conjure up out of legislation, try as they might. This isn't to say that people like trolley drivers should be allowed to text while working -- far from it. But to think that putting a ban into place will, in itself, simply and easily eliminate the problem and make everybody safer is misguided.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: boston, driving, laws, texting, trolley

46 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Duane (profile), 12 May 2009 @ 5:36am

Not to be on the wrong side, but
One reason to explicitly ban stupid behavior in situations like this is so that when the inevitable dumb-ass does cause such a tragedy, he or she can't say, well no one told me I shouldn't do it.

Sounds stupid, but it makes a big difference in deciding what happens to the accident causers and the poor bastards that suffer because of their stupidity.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
noah, 12 May 2009 @ 5:38am

Seriously?
Really? Your point is that some people break the rules no matter what? Who said that the ban would eliminate the problem? How can you possibly criticize a rule that says conductors shouldn't text while driving the trolley? This isn't a ban for everyone, just the employees of the transit authority. Does the rule say they can't text any time on the job, even while the trolley is stopped? That might be something, but you don't appear to have a source with details about the rule do you? You hear the word 'ban' and have to whine about it, regardless of how reasonable it is. If they had said 'rule' instead of ban, would there even be a story here Carlo? How are you any better than the media you always complain about?

The rule allows the transit authority to easily fire a driver who is too stupid to realize he shouldn't text instead of paying attention. How can that be bad?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rob R., 12 May 2009 @ 5:46am

Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
Actually, I think there should be one blanket law called "Felony Stupidity". It should state that if you cause harm to person or property due to an act of stupidity, where thinking about this action clearly shows it's stupidity, you commit a Class B Felony. If you cause a death of property damage exceeding $100,000, then you commit a Class A Felony. Now we're covered in all cases of dumbassedness.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rob R., 12 May 2009 @ 5:52am

Re: Seriously?
Enter the whiny screaming Liberal that wants to be offended. This is a classic case of "Democratitis".

Noah,
He was saying, and I agree, that people are making big about the rule saying they should not text while driving as if the rule would magically make everyone stop being a moron. Rules don't do that and never will. He is saying that people need to use common sense and personal responsibility - forgoing the need for rules like this one that simply state the obvious.

Please, in the future, read the actual content and not read it with the idea of "What can I pick out of this to be offended about?". No sane person would take offense to this story (Not that you are a sane person or anything, so don't be offended that I called you sane - I did not.) and I think he has a very valid and well-spoken point.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rob R., 12 May 2009 @ 5:58am

Great story, Carlo!
I'm glad to see some sanity! Personal responsibility is not just your father's value!

What needs to happen is that people need to be punished for things like this as an example to those that might do it in the future. Adults are exactly like kids where this is concerned. If there is no punishment to fear, then they will do it regardless of any rule to the contrary. Look at speed limits. Those are cheerfully ignored more and more every day. Start enforcing the speed laws people start obeying them. Let up again and the speed goes back up. With no morals and no personal responsibility in the youth of today, I'm not shocked that this type of thing amazes them.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bill, 12 May 2009 @ 6:00am

Re: Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
That's good except that we're entitled to a jury of our peers and most of our peers are morons who do similar stupid things.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Evo Shandor, 12 May 2009 @ 6:01am

Bans allow company to fire these idiots!
The reason a ban is needed is so these idiots can be punished.

Without it, the driver will claim "It was an accident! No rule says I can't text and drive at the same time!" With his union no doubt backing him, management would maybe only be able to suspend him (with pay, natch) pending an investigation. And since he did not break any rules, it's back on the road for Textee McGee.

With the ban in place, the company has some administrative ammo.

The ban aside, these jokers should be charge with 2nd degree murder and assault for every single injury and death. This is more than careless idiocy: bus drivers have a duty to protect. Safety of passengers is part of their job and they are trained for that. This would be like a lifeguard letting someone drown because he was texting.

The ban might not work, but let's start seeing these drivers doing 10-15 years in the slammer. Maybe that'll have an effect.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bill, 12 May 2009 @ 6:05am

Re: Seriously?
I have to agree with Rob R, could you be a bigger whiner or more incapable of getting the point? You are at least partially correct though, the law does make it easier (not necessarily easy) to fire stupid drivers. Let's face facts here, the ban wasn't put in place for that reason, it was put in place for political grandstanding. "See, we've banned it, problem solved. We're watching out for you."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
NullOp, 12 May 2009 @ 6:14am

Ban, HA!
A ban is about as effective as your mom saying stay out of the cookies. If legislators put teeth in the law by saying something to the effect of automatic jail time if texting is involved people will take it a lot more seriously.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tgeigs, 12 May 2009 @ 6:21am

Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
Agreed. Some rules are put in place not to influence behavior, but to allow for punishment. It is generally accepted that psychopaths will not rehabilitate. That doesn't mean that a law stating that "Thou shalt not cut 3 year olds into little skin ribbons so that you can make a sort of Silence of the Lambs sheath for your penis-sword" is useless.

It's just there so we can fry the psycho's ass.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tgeigs, 12 May 2009 @ 6:23am

Re: Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
"Actually, I think there should be one blanket law called "Felony Stupidity". "

We would literally have no goverment left. You sir, are advocating anarchy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ChrisB (profile), 12 May 2009 @ 6:56am

Re: Re: Seriously?
What?

We can't have business where everything is "common sense". You have to have rules about appropriate clothing, safety rules, etc. For example, the people who die most in on-the-job accidents are new, young employees. Common sense is mostly earned through stupid mistakes. Are you seriously advocating that the transit get rid of all rules and just have a Darwinian "common sense" free-for-all? You can take that train, and I'll take the train run by the company that has clear training and safety rules.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chronno S. Trigger, 12 May 2009 @ 6:57am

Re: Bans allow company to fire these idiots!
"Gross Negligence" doesn't qualify? That's a perfectly good reason to fire the guy and it's a good reason to blame him directly for the injuries.

If I hit someone while I'm driving drunk, I get slapped with assault with a deadly weapon or possibly manslaughter. It doesn't even matter if the guy hit was trying to commit suicide.

The phrase "You should pay attention to what your doing at all times" should cover everything including texting. There doesn't need to be another law for it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2009 @ 6:59am

The ban is NOT all they did
A very important detail has been left out here. The last time a conductor crashed a train while texting, the government didn't just pass a law banning texting while driving a train. They ALSO revamped the entire system that's used to decide who is allowed to request access to which sections of track when.

They knew that texting is just one of 1001 possible distractions, and that even if they could get all train drivers to stop texting (which they can't, even with punishments) it's not really getting at the heart of the problem, which is that the trains are operating in such a way that a lightly distracted conductor could cause an accident.

So they changed the system: before (as I understand it... my details may be a bit off) conductors would sometimes be told, "stop at so-and-so track intersection and wait for a train to pass before continuing." Now, if two trains want to schedule the same branched segment of track, one is required to wait at the previous station until the track is completely free.

Simply placing stronger bans on cell phones in order to impose stronger punishments would not have solved the problem. Changing the system did.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
YouAreWrong, 12 May 2009 @ 7:08am

Re: Seriously?
I have to agree with Noah. Carl's argument is like saying that murder should be legal because so many people still do it.

There's always going to be some margin of people who violate the rules. No big deal.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Evan, 12 May 2009 @ 7:27am

Re: Seriously?
Really? I think you seriously missed the point here, Noah. He's not complaining about the the new law itself, nor is he complaining about the stipulations of the law.

What he IS criticizing is the fact that people don't seem to understand that laws can't keep people from being stupid. Yes, the law provides accountability, but that is still a long way away from preventing people from making stupid mistakes. I dare say (and I think everyone can agree) that no law will ever stop people from being idiots. Why is that so hard to understand?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Evan, 12 May 2009 @ 7:30am

Re: Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
Thought (or lack thereof) crimes. What, are we living in 1984?

Your idea is appalling. I hope you get this law made into a bill, and I hope it passes. Then, I hope you make a stupid mistake and end up with a Class A Felony on your hands.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Crabby (profile), 12 May 2009 @ 7:57am

Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
You are correct in pointing that out. Lawyers would have a field day with this and the idiot would wriggle out of having to take the blame.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Crabby (profile), 12 May 2009 @ 8:06am

Posting rules doesn't mean much unless there is a penalty for violating them. I agree with the posters who say there should be stiff punishments. If you willfully allow yourself to be distracted by a cell phone or texting and have an accident that kills people, you should go to jail. No bail. Ever. I do not feel sorry for these stupid idiots and they should pay the price.

Even if they cause a fender-bender, it should be automatic loss of job with no severance, no back pay, nothing. If society is really serious about this issue, we need to be serious about the punishments or it's all just a big joke. And it's all fun and games until someone you know or love loses an eye.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Wendell Cochran, 12 May 2009 @ 8:17am

thumbsucker piece
'He stuck in his thumb, & pulled out a plum . . .'

You didn't do your homework: the Metro crash in Chatsworth (Calif.) didn't kill 'scores'. (The last I heard, 25 had died.)

Your logic stinks. You're saying that rules are no good -- because people break rules. Nonsense.

Surely you know better.

So think better. Write better.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Kyle, 12 May 2009 @ 8:21am

Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
I still don't understand the need to call out cell phone activity. In Washington we have a law that basically includes any kind of driving destraction. Why call out cell phones when you already have a law that covers messing with your radio knobs, trying to eat your big mac, reaching in the back seat to smack your kid, thumbing through your cd wallet, etc etc etc. If a person causes an accident because they were texting or talking on the phone, then they were driving with too much distraction for them to handle. It's a redundant law.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2009 @ 8:22am

Yes, the law provides accountability, but that is still a long way away from preventing people from making stupid mistakes.

Yeah, no shit. So what exactly was the point of the article?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 May 2009 @ 8:27am

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeff, 12 May 2009 @ 8:30am

Similar warnings
I work on a similar transit system. However it is not a trolley system, we have every sort of warning sings and rules you can imagine. The driver must stand while driving, to see out of the windscreen. When given instructions over the radio we are to repeat them back to verify we are on the same page. And we are not allowed use of mobile phones because they pose a distraction to our duties, etc

Now on occasion I've had to call up the drivers because radio reception was lousy and I had to make sure they understood what I needed them to do. So I was technically breaking the rule. But we all know that personal use of our phones are a big no-no. We keep that rule in place as a catch all to get rid of the people that break it, because if they can't figure out the importance of their own safety but the passengers as well we have no use for them.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
rwieck (profile), 12 May 2009 @ 8:32am

Stupid people
It's kind of nice when stupid people decide to take themselves out of the gene pool, however, it's really too bad they usually take out a bunch of innocent people also.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Paul, 12 May 2009 @ 8:37am

If you want a new law that allows more severe punishment than reckless driving, just make an extenuating circumstance clause under reckless driving. If your reckless driving is found to be in part due to non-driver related activity, it can qualify for more severe punishment.

OR

Just make sure people are aware that cell phone use and texting, etc. qualifies for reckless driving and just do an ad campaign to spread the awareness.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Paul, 12 May 2009 @ 8:42am

as a side note...
Your reasoning that the ban being ineffective and therefore unwarranted is also not really that good. An intelligent person also knows that drunk driving is a bad thing and generally avoids it, however its still illegal and I don't see you clamoring for that one to be taken off the books.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mrs. Geek, 12 May 2009 @ 8:42am

Solution Found!
Put a cell phone blocker in the control booth. Period. They reach for about 30 feet surrounding the unit so people at the front of the first car wouldn't be able to give everyone on the train their loud and unsolicited play-by-play interpretation of how unfair their brothers jail sentence was "cuz that bitch don't know who she be messin' wit!" THOSE people would have to select the 2nd car in the consist for that very important business. [CONSIST: a specific group/sequence of cars that make up a complete train].

Then (us) business commuters using public transportation could ride to our employers in peace and complete safety knowing that the controller of their train DEFINITELY wasn't texting while driving.

The added (yet completely unintentional) consequence of blocking cell signals in the first car is that the riff-raff CHOOSE to ride in the back of the train. And if YOUR business is SO SCARY important that it can't wait the 20 minute commute, then you can voluntarily elect to ride in the rear car with the riff-raff.

ANOTHER (completely unintentional) benefit of this solution is that the fare inspectors will know where to start their inspections looking for fare jumpers. It's a win-win-win solution.

So is there now some ACLU liar..sorry, lawyer...out there that knows of the obscure passage in the US Constitution that outlines the rights of stupid people to infringe on my rights to be safe and productive in society?

Personal responsibility in the US is more dead than chivalry. Good luck to all.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
aguywhoneedstenbucks, 12 May 2009 @ 8:55am

Re: Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
You forgot acts of asshatery.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Fred Flintstone, 12 May 2009 @ 9:01am

Why not just not allow the drivers of all mass transit carry such devices? They seemed to do the job without them for well for decades.

Hope this driver losses his job and any vested pension plus some years of freedom.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
CastorTroy-Libertarian, 12 May 2009 @ 9:15am

Re: Bans allow company to fire these idiots!
What if (and just throwing it out there) the accident happened and no ban was on the books...
Driver "I didnt know, there was no rule"
Company "well sorry, but we expect you to be able to think, just a little bit, you are an operator of a large machine capable of loss of life, so your still fired, for being an idiot, and being below our intellegence requirement, thanks for playing though, oh and your contract states your responsible for damages, good luck"
Done, no specific rule, punishment still handed out, and everyone goes, gee i gotta think, I know it hurts but try it, you will be rewarded with how much better life is
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TechWeasel, 12 May 2009 @ 9:17am

Crime and Punishment
Stiffer punishments are not the answer. Completely consistent application of penalties is the answer. One reason that our justice system sucks so badly (read: does not prevent recidivism) is because it doesn't consistently penalize crimes. A person who contemplates a crime believes that there is a pretty good chance that he will get away with it, and even if he is caught, there is a pretty good chance that a lawyer will get him off or he'll work a deal, and even if he is found guilty, there is a good chance that the punishment will be light.

Talk to any psychologist - if you're trying to condition someone (human or animal) and your punishments for an action are inconsistent, you will be far less successful than if the punishment is exactly the same and occurs 100% of the time. I understand the necessity of a system in which all defendants have the right and ability to defend themselves, but the current system doesn't work.

So, having a cell phone if you're responsible for people's safety ought to be a week's suspension without pay. Personal effects would need to be checked, but that's better than something like this happening again.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Baloney Joe, 12 May 2009 @ 9:23am

Re: Seriously?
How can you possibly criticize a rule that says conductors shouldn't text while driving the trolley?

you're an idiot.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Tgeigs, 12 May 2009 @ 9:32am

Re: Crime and Punishment
"Talk to any psychologist - if you're trying to condition someone (human or animal) and your punishments for an action are inconsistent, you will be far less successful than if the punishment is exactly the same and occurs 100% of the time."

Finally! I get to use that Psychology degree I got!

Close, but wrong. The best conditioning (as those of us who own dogs know) is based on punishment/rewards, AKA reinforcement, that is nearly but not completely 100%. This usually happens after the association between the conditional and unconditional stiumli has been made, and you use extinction to continued the behavior w/o needing the reward/punishment as often.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The infamous Joe, 12 May 2009 @ 9:35am

Re: Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
In Washington we have a law that basically includes any kind of driving destraction.

Making it illegal to be distracted? People in the passenger's seat can be distracting. 15 flashing construction signs can be distracting. Having a shitty day at work can be distracting.

You can't outlaw being distracted.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nipsey russel, 12 May 2009 @ 9:45am

Re: Re: Bans allow company to fire these idiots!
he was paying attention to what he was doing, texting.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Devin, 12 May 2009 @ 10:13am

I think this article is wrong...
I think techdirt is a little confused on the cell phone ban aspect of this story. Cell phones were not banned by the MBTA (Metro Boston Transit Authority) before this accident. While drivers are not supposed to be talking or texting while driving buses or trolleys, cell phones were allowed to be kept on person. Only after this accident were cell phones banned from being carried around.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jason, 12 May 2009 @ 4:26pm

Re: Re: Bans allow company to fire these idiots!
Yes, but bans on gross negligence and stupidity can't get you fired PREEMPTIVELY. If you have a ban on the books and catch the guy texting while driving you can fire him BEFORE a trainload of people gets killed.

OH WAIT! That's ridiculous, because it would imply that the entire premise of the article is DEAD WRONG and bans on dangerous behavior actually can prevent or at least reduce the instances of deadly outcomes.

Nah, couldn't be.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jason, 12 May 2009 @ 4:35pm

Re: Re: Bans allow company to fire these idiots!
No the proper question is what if the accident didn't happen the first time the guy gets caught texting and driving. If there's a hard and fast zero-tolerance rule, he never gets to jeopardize a trainload of people again.

No rule, maybe he gets fired, maybe not. Maybe he gets reprimanded, maybe not. Maybe his boss goes as far to strongly suggest that he never do that again - maybe.

That's why the ban makes sense. Period.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jason, 12 May 2009 @ 4:39pm

Re: Re: Not to be on the wrong side, but
They already have an ADD test for getting your driver's license. The first three times I tried, I just couldn't stand in line long enough. The third time I was on the phone.

They should just ban cell phones in the DMV.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jason, 12 May 2009 @ 4:42pm

Re: thumbsucker piece
Actually that would be 1 1/4 scores.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
l duvall, 12 May 2009 @ 5:26pm

Cell phone bans don't work?
Well, I guess you could make the same argument that laws to prevent people from shooting other people don't work either. If you don't tell people it is illegal and wrong, it isn't. Those that are as dumb as a brick need to be told - and if they ignore it, let them be fired, sued, or worse.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rekrul, 12 May 2009 @ 7:09pm

But to think that putting a ban into place will, in itself, simply and easily eliminate the problem and make everybody safer is misguided.

Of course it will! Just like making it illegal to bring guns on a school campus has completely eliminated school shootings...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jason Motley, 13 May 2009 @ 5:25am

not the point of the law
It seems to me that the ban on cellphones while driving is actually a good one. Will it stop everyone from doing it, no. There has been a ban against murder for hundreds of years and that still happens everyday. But what this ban does is for a few they will think twice about doing it and for the rest if/when they get into an accident because they were talking/texting that is just one more charge and could be the desiding factor if they are found at fault for the accident. I have seen these folks talking on their cells while driving, (many not all) they slow down rapidly when answering the phone and they dont pay attention to road. I had a lady change lanes right into my car because she was talking and could not turn her head properly to see that i ws in her blind spot. It's great that many states are adopting this law and making it an offence that the police can pull you over for. For most people it will only take once to get pulled over and have to pay a fine of $100 before they learn. If it's that important to talk while driving get a headset. they only cost $30 and they give for full range of motion
[ link to this | view in thread ]
VRP, 14 May 2009 @ 8:50am

Re: I think this article is wrong...
MBTA is Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority!
VRP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dummy, 21 Jun 2009 @ 5:56pm

Laws are for the few
We make laws to cover the stupid people so they can't say, "I didn't know I was not supposed to do that". We have murder laws that apply to everyone even though only a few people will commit it. We have spray paint laws that applies to everyone just because a few stupid people use it for vandalism. We have more laws on our books just for these stupid people! Stupid people cause us more time, energy and money as a nation. We need to send them to another country.
[ link to this | view in thread ]