Saturday, May 9, 2009
So, You Want To Drive A Trolley Car?
I sat down with my 20 year old son last night to discuss a whole litany of important subjects none of which need to be delved into here. Throughout the first twenty or so minutes of our conversation his cell phone had interrupted us no less than six times until finally, with remarkable restraint, I removed it from the equation. Hopefully, there was a lesson learned and if not, then maybe further reinforcement will be needed until he learns that this behavior is not proper. This is not a particularly new phenomenon for anyone with children or involved with children. I guess it’s actually not even a children thing. Anyone who speaks at a meeting, or goes to church or teaches a class is familiar with this annoyance. I do know that no amount of rule-making will prevent it. We can only fight ignorance with education.
As this ignorance and lack of respect for others grows into a dangerous obsession that risks lives, such as yesterday’s accident involving two Green Line Trolleys on the MBTA, everyone suddenly acts disturbed that this person could have broken the “no tolerance” rule the T has for cell phone usage. I’m sure that the next step will be additional unenforceable policy. You wonder how much policy on top of policy needs to be in place before people realize that no amount of policy can make up for lack of education, immaturity, lack of respect, and lack of proper training for a particular job. “No tolerance” policies are a joke.
The individual responsible, judging from news reports, is a 24 year old kid that was text messaging his girlfriend. He has been on the job for 22 months. Now assuming there was SOME training involved with operating a trolley, you have to wonder whether 22 months is enough. And what about qualifications? Does an individual like this require any type of qualifications prior to entering training to drive a trolley car with what, 50 people on it? Trolley Drivers have a union. Is there an apprenticeship program? In the construction trades you’re required to go through at least 4 years of apprenticeship training and even after that you rarely work alone. Just about a year ago, another trolley operator, on the same line, at the same age, in the same type of accident, died. An investigation found that she wasn’t talking on the phone at the time of the accident. So what! A tragedy could probably have been averted with more training, but you will not see that in the investigation.
These kids are not properly trained, not qualified and not mature enough to be left alone driving a trolley car on the streets and tracks of Boston. This latest victim of T ineptitude will be vilified and hung out for everyone’s ridicule, while they (MBTA) maintain their politically correct no tolerance line.
POSTED BY STAN at May 9, 2009
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