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Why is everyone so hell bent on blaming the cell phone?
Yes it may have been the engineer was utilizing a cellular phone (texting/phone or otherwise). The cell phone is an inanimate object and not capable of making choices - it does as its instructed. The engineer was using the phone, the engineer is to blame - NOT the device, and the engineer paid the ultimate price, his life - unfortunately so did 25 other people. These 25 other familys though have a legal right to go after the estate of the engineer to receieve proper justice (DISCLAIMER: Not to be construed for legal advice). Its unfortunate that those other 25 people (and many others wounded) because of this poor decision on the engineer, but its part of life. Inacting bans like this do little to curb the action - what we need is proper education and ettiqute on how/when to use these devices.

I use my phone in my car all the time (albiet a headset and use voice dialing) - but its because I know how. I do not text as its unsafe - i know this. My driving style and attention does not change - I am fully aware and when a situation does warrent a higher level of awareness (bad weather, construction, traffic delays, etc) I discontinue use of the device.

Distractions happen and they take many forms (Passengers, radio, phones, food, even reading) - its unfair to target one and leave the others untouched.
Posted by: JT82   Posted on: 09/16/08  (Edited: 09/16/2008 @ 09:04) You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Why is everyone so hell bent on blaming the cell phone?  JT82 | 09/16/08
The same way that  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/16/08
not really  RobinInTheHood | 09/18/08
NOBODY was blaming it on the phone. They were ONLY blaming it on the fact  DonnieBoy | 09/16/08
Then why the screaming.....  JT82 | 09/16/08
Simple answer  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/16/08
Simpler answer  cburkitt2 | 09/17/08
Trains have "dead-man's handles" don't they?  Mahegan | 09/17/08
Who is screaming about phones?  seanferd | 09/16/08
Read My Lips  vmanes | 09/17/08
Who blamed it on the phone?  seanferd | 09/16/08
They also will go after RR  rkoman@... | 09/16/08
I agree - it could just as well have been a comic book  jlafitte | 09/18/08
Sad way to validate than utilizing a phone  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/16/08
There is a larger problem though. Given that we KNOW that people will do  DonnieBoy | 09/16/08
There has been a mechanical way of doing available  Mahegan | 09/17/08
Have a read  Mahegan | 09/17/08
Works if you have all-electric trains...  jlafitte | 09/18/08
ain't exactly so  drufus | 09/18/08
Re: ain't exactly so  Me_too | 09/23/08
They're not "blaming" the object...  AlphaSet | 09/16/08
I'll buy that...  JT82 | 09/16/08
You are taking it to a context that is inappropriate...  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/16/08
NOBODY is asking or a general ban, ONLY a ban while operating a train with  DonnieBoy | 09/16/08
In this situation, we're only saying  rkoman@... | 09/16/08
So how are you any different than a train operator?  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/17/08
vocab...  cburkitt2 | 09/17/08
Flaunt vs Flout  lincoln@... | 09/17/08
How is he different? He's a lawyer.  bmerc | 09/18/08
Re: You will just potentially kill fewer people.  Me_too | 09/23/08
Wanna check that...?  Wolfie2K3 | 09/17/08
Er, no... you FLOUT the law  jlafitte | 09/18/08
Who said that?  seanferd | 09/16/08
Way off?  rkoman@... | 09/16/08
Well, see, if you follow the dotted line...  bmerc | 09/18/08
And personal responsibility.  jlafitte | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  fromag82 | 09/16/08
Because they won't  rkoman@... | 09/16/08
They don't even really need it  seanferd | 09/16/08
Have a read...  Mahegan | 09/17/08
You mean if you and I pay for it.  fromag82 | 09/17/08
Sorry, but Airline rules should be applied here.  Update victim | 09/17/08
Airline rules are being changed, too  jlafitte | 09/18/08
the future is now  drufus | 09/18/08
Or if it's an alternative to losing their shirts in court  jlafitte | 09/18/08
Ignorance and the profit motive  Mahegan | 09/17/08
The question is - why are you so arrogant about  jlafitte | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  dorkiedorkfromdorktown | 09/17/08
Federal Transportation Subsidies  Dr_Zinj | 09/17/08
Several problems with this philosophy  dlink | 09/17/08
RE: They don't even really need it  barrylb | 09/17/08
Railroad negligent?  djchandler | 09/17/08
Highly unlikely....  dlink | 09/17/08
UP played by the rules  drufus | 09/18/08
ATS has existed since the 1920s  Oreamnos_americanus | 09/17/08
Right On  Mahegan | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  jcitron@... | 09/17/08
But who should pay for it?  dlink | 09/17/08
We're already paying for it and everything else.  jcitron@... | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  ursha25@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  nick@... | 09/17/08
Eliminate employees?  william.brophy@... | 09/17/08
The railroads aren't resisting the technology...  dlink | 09/17/08
let the railroads do the math...  jlafitte | 09/18/08
..and they do just that...  dlink | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  jdcaustx@... | 09/17/08
But who should pay for it?  dlink | 09/17/08
Train crash and positive technology  Mahegan | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  kkrys | 09/17/08
That is exactly what happened...  dlink | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  kg6ygs@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  shanedr | 09/17/08
Safety requires that  Mahegan | 09/17/08
Technology is not the Answer  tomam | 09/17/08
It is about ideology and culture as these posts show  Mahegan | 09/17/08
You're the one supplying the ideological trash, Mahegan  jlafitte | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  Joseph.Thomas@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  denkidr | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  radolan@... | 09/17/08
Good point!  piddlypoo | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  patnjoeh@... | 09/17/08
Distractions  Dr. John | 09/17/08
Magnetic device  Mahegan | 09/17/08
Technology might have averted the train crash  dshehorn44@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  jnocook | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  jeffparm01 | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  welshans2@... | 09/17/08
PTC is STILL cheaper than big court judgments....  jlafitte | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  welshans2@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  john_gillespie@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  General Ludd | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  General Ludd | 09/17/08
Fact: Swiss Railways use P.T.C. for past 50++ Years  afgcons@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  ManoaHI | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  fredmore@... | 09/17/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  bwh48@... | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  jlafitte | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  as901 | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  Michael Fournier | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  Lt. Dan | 09/18/08
Two in the cab  Lt. Dan | 09/18/08
Tough!  ksarkies@... | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  bluelen69@... | 09/18/08
It's Not Rocket Science.. It's a Railroad  linux-user | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  pquinn34@... | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  theCableDoctor@... | 09/18/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  synchron@... | 09/21/08
RE: Technology could have averted fatal LA train crash  soapietrekkers@... | 09/27/08

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