WMATAs first Cell phone termination.

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WMATAs first Cell phone termination.
Topic Started: Aug 5 2009, 01:32 PM (145 Views)
Nabi60SFW9620	Aug 5 2009, 01:32 PM Post #1
Foamer Posts: 2,129 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/Metro-IDs-First-Candidate-for-Zero-Tolerance-Termination-52114232.html According to NBC Washington. WMATA may have their first termination for a driver using a cell phone while operating a WMATA vehicle. According to the video the driver was yelled at by passengers to get moving. So I dont know whether or not the bus operator will be terminated for the use of a cell phone while driving. I thought by now Baltimore MTA would start having terminations over drivers operating while on cell phones. But so far I havent heard about it.



Van2006ko	Aug 5 2009, 04:35 PM Post #2
Foamer Posts: 2,528 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: February 16, 2005	Yea he will just to prove a point.



Nabi60SFW9620	Aug 5 2009, 08:16 PM Post #3
Foamer Posts: 2,129 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	I was expecting by now Baltimore MTA would have had to terminate an operator for using a cell phone while driving but so far I havent heard anything about it. Since Baltimore MTA has more cases of drivers and base management misbehaving worse then passengers.



Tritransit Area	Aug 5 2009, 08:30 PM Post #4
Transit Enthusiast Posts: 2,242 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: February 17, 2005	I told y'all so: http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/single/?p=8017230&t=7126270 Quote: WMATA made this policy because they were embarrassed cuz a kid caught one of their operators texting while the train was maneuvering itself down the tracks. Because of this embarrassment, in addition to the scrutiny from the accident (having nothing to do with texting, by the way) Mr. Catoe decided to have a knee-jerk reaction to put this into effect. They already had a reasonable established policy...obviously it wasn't enforced enough. With the same type of enforcement, would such a policy even matter? It wouldn't, until someone is made an example of and it goes all over the news about how WMATA has no tolerance for unsafe practices. Funny. The operator jumped off the bus and talked on her cell phone. The passengers screamed at her to get back on the bus and continue the route (I presume the bus was early, which is why she sat in the first place). She gets back on board, and, yielding to the passengers wishes, continued the route as she attempted to finish her conversation. The media and passengers make it seem like she turned on the phone and was yakking away while driving. Reminds me of how I got my first and only ticket... Oh well, sucks for her - shouldn't have pushed the limits, especially with people looking at each driver like a hawk.



Nabi60SFW9620	Aug 6 2009, 07:10 AM Post #5
Foamer Posts: 2,129 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	I think either the driver should have ended the conversation sooner. Or have the person they are on the phone with hold for a second and confront the passengers who were yelling at her to continue the route. I really hate when people whine about drivers doing certain behaviors. Some whine when drivers are having conversations with passengers all the time in Baltimore. But lately it seems it doesnt happen as much since nothing is posted about no talking to the operator while the bus is in motion. I usually never say anything if a driver is misbehaving while on the bus. If they are mis behaving and I felt the behavior shouldnt have happened as soon as I get to the computer I email the Transit authority and report the behavior. Like when I observed transit operators using cell phones while driving a transit vehicle. A similar incident like this one occured in Baltimore not too long ago. But instead of the operator getting back on still on the phone he asked the person to hold on got on the bus and cussed out the passenger who was yelling at him to continue the route. And knowing MTA. He will not be fired. And this driver has cussed out passengers many times in the past and still works for the MTA.



Nabi60SFW9620	Aug 6 2009, 09:10 AM Post #6
Foamer Posts: 2,129 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	I wonder if WMATA has a zero tolerance policy about passengers conversating with the operator while the bus is in motion. I know Baltimore MTA does not have a zero tolerance policy on that but they do on operators using cell phones while operating MTA vehicles. Since cell phones are more of a distraction then a conversation with someone on board an MTA bus.



Nabi60SFW9620	Aug 11 2009, 09:52 AM Post #7
Foamer Posts: 2,129 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	John Catoe was ashamed that the driver was talking on a cell phone while operating a Metro vehicle. Although with Baltimore MTA. Its probably happened at least 2-3 times maybe more. But that never makes the news since MTA wants to cover up bad incidents. Such as the fire on 0025 which burnt the coach to a crisp. But hopefully John Catoe doesnt have to put up with operator misbehaviors such as behaviors Greg Payne and Paul Weidefeld have to put up with. I think Baltimore MTAs reason for the new policy is to reduce customer complaints reguarding operators using cell phones while driving MTA vehicles. MTA tried their best not to make it a zero tolerance policy but everything else they tried didnt work. The simple write ups to the base superintendants and even the 3 strike systems. As well as signs stating that operators do not use cell phones while operating MTA vehicles. It looked like false information in some cases since operators still used cell phones while driving MTA vehicles. Then with Baltimore. I wouldnt be surprised if some of their operators caused it to get to where all operators can bring cell phones on the bus. MTA banned drivers from wearing shorts as the result to operators who were wearing short shorts on the job. Which 90% of employers who allow shorts prohibit. Edited by Nabi60SFW9620, Aug 11 2009, 09:57 AM.



Nabi60SFW9620	Aug 14 2009, 06:33 AM Post #8
Foamer Posts: 2,129 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	John Catoe established the zero tolerance policy with cell phones for safety reasons. That is part of why Baltimore MTA did but MTAs main reason is to reduce the amount of complaints per day they receive. And out of all types of misbehaviors that they receive complaints about drivers using cell phones for personal non emergency calls while operating transit vehicles. DART First State used to always receive complaints about drivers using cell phones while operating DARTs buses.



Nabi60SFW9620	Sep 13 2009, 07:32 AM Post #9
Foamer Posts: 2,129 Group: Members Member #10 Joined: February 21, 2005	Within the past week I spotted 2 MTA operators on cell phones with the zero tolerance policy. One of them I was riding with on September 5th called to arrange transportation at a red light and continued when the light turned green before ending the call. Then this past Friday another driver was seen leaving Lutherville Park and ride using a cell phone. But I probably wont report those 2 incidents. If I see the same driver again on a cell phone then Ill report it. But knowing MTA and their stupidity base superintendents may try and cover up and pretend it was work related to keep the drivers from losing their jobs. And I wouldnt even be surprised if the MTA hired the driver this topic is mainly based on. MTA does have operators who were terminated from WMATA. And thats one of the reasons service is crappy in most cases and they wont fire those who make it crappy. Edited by Nabi60SFW9620, Sep 13 2009, 07:35 AM.



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