Reuters is reporting that text messaging may have had something to do with a recent train crash in California that killed 25 and injured 135. Cell phone records show that the train’s conductor received a text message at 4:21:03 PM, followed by the crash at 4:22:23 PM. The idea is that he got the text message, looked down to read it, and missed the trackside signal. The commuter train then collided with a freight train.
Whether text messaging was the culprit or not, California train workers have now been temporarily banned from using cell phones at work. Temporarily? It’s a train, make it permanent. Many states make it illegal to text while driving, why should a train be any different? You don’t see bus drivers texting (I hope).
Ever heard of “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”? Yeah… if only we could ban stupidity….
Given the massive amount of momentum a moving train has, I don’t think one minute, twenty seconds would have made any difference. Someone made the wrong decision (wrong track or missed a signal) many, many, many minutes – per ten or more – before the resulting impact.
Actually, Metrolink workers are already forbidden to use cell phones… this guy was a contract worker and was knowingly in violation.