Comments on: Just drive, don’t talk http://ourpdx.com/2008/09/just-drive-dont-talk/ Collaborative coverage of news and events, with a focus on community. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:46:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: al m http://ourpdx.com/2008/09/just-drive-dont-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-2183 al m Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:09:05 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=808#comment-2183 I don't have statistics at my fingertips, sorry, but I think that if one would research all the fatal accidents that happen in this country and compare how many were transit related due to operator error, it would become quite clear that most of the carnage created on American roadways is indeed caused by non professional drivers. Human error will always occur when humans are involved, obviously no bus/train operator should be talking on a cell phone when their vehicle is in motion, I give you that. I don’t have statistics at my fingertips, sorry, but I think that if one would research all the fatal accidents that happen in this country and compare how many were transit related due to operator error, it would become quite clear that most of the carnage created on American roadways is indeed caused by non professional drivers.

Human error will always occur when humans are involved, obviously no bus/train operator should be talking on a cell phone when their vehicle is in motion, I give you that.

]]> By: A. L. Venable http://ourpdx.com/2008/09/just-drive-dont-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-2182 A. L. Venable Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:28:45 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=808#comment-2182 <a href='#comment-2181' rel="nofollow">@al m</a> - Which facts would those be? While I'm sure if you put all transit drivers up against everyone else who drives, there may be some safety assumptions made. However, that doesn't escape the fact that transit drivers, on average, are also carrying more people in their vehicles. It also doesn't escape the fact that when an accident occurs where a transit driver is involved, it gets more attention. See the incident with the commuter engineer in LA or the multiple deaths that occurred in the Washington, DC area on the bus routes and on the Metro system. That said, please do post any transit safety statistics. Taking a quick glance on TriMet's site, I don't see any current information. @al m – Which facts would those be? While I’m sure if you put all transit drivers up against everyone else who drives, there may be some safety assumptions made. However, that doesn’t escape the fact that transit drivers, on average, are also carrying more people in their vehicles. It also doesn’t escape the fact that when an accident occurs where a transit driver is involved, it gets more attention. See the incident with the commuter engineer in LA or the multiple deaths that occurred in the Washington, DC area on the bus routes and on the Metro system.

That said, please do post any transit safety statistics. Taking a quick glance on TriMet’s site, I don’t see any current information.

]]> By: al m http://ourpdx.com/2008/09/just-drive-dont-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-2181 al m Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:01:43 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=808#comment-2181 I think if you look at the facts TRIMET BUS DRIVERS, and transit bus drivers in general, are far more attentive and skilled at driving then any other segment of the driving population. I think if you look at the facts TRIMET BUS DRIVERS, and transit bus drivers in general, are far more attentive and skilled at driving then any other segment of the driving population.

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