09-20-2010, 02:29 PM | #46 |
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Yep. And being hit by a 40 foot bus even if it's only going 10-20 mph can be devastating. Plus, there is the liability to consider. If he has to slam on his brakes he stands a good chance of having a dozen or so people trying to get money out of the transit agency for whiplash. They're doing the right thing by firing him.
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09-21-2010, 03:13 AM | #47 |
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What Would Jesus Do?
He would turn the other page. If he were reading a Kindle.
It's time to calm down the discussion, and not turn this into a call for crucifying an unfortunate soul. We all agree that the man did not do the intelligent thing. But firing an employee of 10 years, while other bus drivers go free is too extreme. It would amount to selective enforcement of work rules, and lead to a major lawsuit. The government of Portland should tread slowly. Issue the man a warning and dock his pay. If he ever does it again, fire him and any others who violate written policy. Heck, make each employee sign a statement that they acknowledge the work rules, and fully understand the consequences of not following such rules. |
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09-21-2010, 04:03 AM | #48 |
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"Endangering the lives of others": Guilty as charged!
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09-21-2010, 05:06 AM | #49 | |
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If they only reprimand him and he keeps on doing it and kill people, then administration who didn't invoke the proper level of punishment are going to jail for negligence and incompetence (and rightly so)? |
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09-21-2010, 06:23 AM | #50 | |
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What other bus drivers were you referring to that are going free? I could find nothing mentioned anywhere about them. |
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09-21-2010, 07:26 AM | #51 | |
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09-21-2010, 07:28 AM | #52 | ||||
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Quote:
Wait wait wait... are you saying that you have knowledge or saw other bus drivers who read Kindle while driving and go free? Is this a common thing in the US? Care to enlighten me please? Quote:
Quote:
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09-21-2010, 08:33 AM | #53 | |
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09-21-2010, 10:05 AM | #54 |
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Firing is appropriate. He broke the rules quite knowingly and deliberately, endangering the lives and well-being of others, and does not deserve a job driving a forty-foot bus. It's not like they executed the guy; they just said, "This job is not for you."
That said, I read my Kobo while driving along Pacific Coast Highway once. Well, you could hardly call it "driving." There'd been an accident and traffic was at a complete standstill. First I ate my lunch, then I settled in for some light reading. Forty minutes later, traffic started to move again and I put my reader away. |
09-21-2010, 10:53 AM | #55 |
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yeah, I've been in traffic so bad that nothing moved, and everyone turned off their cars. THEN it would be ok to read while in the driver's seat. Or when in 'park' while on the road because of traffic. As long as the reader is put away before moving again.
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09-21-2010, 10:59 AM | #56 |
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I cannot understand how anyone can defend this driver,
unless this method of driving is the "norm" for the defenders' country. |
09-21-2010, 11:15 AM | #57 | |
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On the highway... in the rain... with his elbow... while reading a book. 'nuff said! He doesn't have to doing 50 mile per hour in order to kill someone. If he rear ends someone, even doing as little as 10 miles an hour, he could kill them. What if there is a little kid in the car in front of him? A pregnant woman? What if one of the passengers on his bus is handicapped? Last edited by dsvick; 09-21-2010 at 11:17 AM. |
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09-21-2010, 11:45 AM | #58 |
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I just love how people living nowhere close to AZ and have no clue what is going on here are so quick to condemn us. I know what you said was tongue in cheek but it's a sore point here.
Last edited by Lady Fitzgerald; 09-21-2010 at 08:45 PM. |
09-21-2010, 05:22 PM | #59 |
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Driving requires concentration. When you drive your car you have the responsibility not to endanger your passengers and other road users. If you drive a bus, you have the responsibility to not endanger your passengers and other road users. If you read whilst driving you lose concentration and endanger your passengers and other road users. And if you're caught you get fired, which is better than being killed in a road accident.
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09-21-2010, 09:12 PM | #60 |
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That would only work if evidence that other drivers were violating the policy had been brought to the attention of the transit agency and the drivers had not been disciplined or fired. That's a bit of a reach.
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