Personal Injury Law

Bill Seeks Ban on Electronic Devices by Train Operators

A bill sponsored by New Jersey Democratic Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan seeks to ban train conductors and bus drivers from text messaging or sending e-mails when their vehicles are moving. According to this news report, only emergency electronic communication would be allowed under this particular bill.

Introducing this bill is a result of a fatal commuter train crash that occurred in California last year killing 25 people and injuring close to 150. The Metrolink engineer involved in the accident was apparently sending a text message 22 seconds before the catastrophic collision with a freight train. Diegnan said that he believes some people have become so addicted to these electronic devices that they expose other people to grave danger without even thinking about it. New Jersey already has a ban in place for texting or talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving.

Full post as published by New York Injury Talk Blog on February 16, 2009 (boomark / email).