Thursday’s Kenmore Square road-rage incident reveals more than just the aberrant behavior of one driver.
Multiple sources report that the driver has a “lengthy” driving record:
According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, her license is currently in non-renewable status for unpaid parking tickets, unpaid excise tax and an unpaid toll violation.
In 2010, she was involved in a crash in Roxbury and found to be at fault.
Her license was also suspended from November 2006 to March 2007 for failing to complete a safety course.
The MBTA confirmed Friday that she was operating a bus during that time period because she failed to report the suspension, as she was required to, to the MBTA .
I’m sorry, but this is simply absurd. I’m happy to hear that the MBTA began receiving “regular reports” from the Registry in 2009. Why was this driver allowed to continue endangering the public with this record? Her license is in “non-renewable status”? A traffic scofflaw is driving an MBTA bus? Surely it is not hard to get the Registry to report this information to the MBTA. The Boston Herald reports that “dozens of T (sic) bus drivers have been put out on the streets despite terrible roadway rap sheets”. From the same Herald piece:
T spokesman Joseph Pesaturo said officials are alerted only when there is a change in an employee’s license status, not when there is a single accident.
“No action was taken, nor warranted,” he said, referring to the 2010 crash. “One accident in an employee’s personal vehicle does not automatically trigger disciplinary measures.”
Say WHAT? These are allegedly professional drivers handling huge vehicles in tightly congested urban settings. When one of those drivers is involved in an accident in which that driver is more than 50% at fault, it most certainly DOES warrant “action” — that driver should not be behind the wheel of an MBTA bus.
And the Herald tells us there “Dozens” like this. Dozens? REALLY?
This is totally unacceptable. I suggest that we have every right to expect and demand excellence from MBTA bus drivers. In particular, we have every right to expect and demand zero tolerance for MBTA bus drivers with at-fault crashes (whether on or off the job), and zero tolerance for MBTA bus drivers who are traffic scofflaws. I’m not sure how we got here, and I’m not sure what has to change to correct this problem, but this is totally unacceptable.
mjonesmel says
Yes, the public sector answers to us, and, yes, the fact this MBTA bus was driving for the T is outrageous (a failure of public management, not the rank-and-file), but “zero tolerance for MBTA bus drivers with at-fault crashes (whether on or off the job)” is way too harsh. No human being — even public employees — are perfect. Are you saying that if an off duty T-Driver causes $750.00 in damage hitting the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of him/her, the driver should be automatically fired? That would be an “at-fault” crash. I’ve had a few of them driving in the crazy traffic of Greater Boston.
SomervilleTom says
There is no shortage of applicants to drive buses for the MBTA. Professional drivers don’t hit the rear bumper of the care in front of him/her.
In the crazy traffic of Greater Boston, I think we have a right to demand that those who drive MBTA buses are the sanest and safest drivers.
merrimackguy says
http://www.eagletribune.com/latestnews/x994534485/Hearing-officer-Convicted-cop-should-get-job-back
merrimackguy says
It’s a grat deal. Assualt women and get suspended with pay for a number of years and then get your job back at the end of.
johnd says
Of course she should be fired but watch the union stand by her and defend her. We need all branches of government to stop protecting the people who screw up like this. I read the other day about a huge list of teachers in NYC school system who have been charged with sexual abuse or misconduct who are all out of work and getting paid thanks to the union protecting them. Protect the people who really need it and not these substandard employees who never should have gotten the jobs prior to them screwing up.
kbusch says
is not a branch of government.
johnd says
I said…
I meant…
Christopher says
On the one hand, unions understand that going too far for an obviously bad member doesn’t do them any favors. On the other hand, it IS part of a union’s job to make sure their members are treated freely, for the same reason defense attorneys work for clients that are almost certainly guilty.