Quote:
Originally Posted by TRP
It appears that the driver was using his phone as the train approached the station...
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Thanks Tony.
I've seen several 'situations' in the past caused by drivers using phones, and that was what I'd guessed happened here but didn't want to say before it was in the public domain.
In fact ASLEF warned its members several years ago that it could
not defend them if they had an accident or incident whilst using a mobile phone on the move. They even ran a campaign to remind drivers not to use their phones in cabs. There's a picture below showing the little badge which came with the pack
The Operating Company and/or Police are entitled to obtain a driver's mobile phone records following a rail accident, so there's no getting out of it.
And it's right there in the Rulebook (Section 5.2) that you must not use
any communication device if it could distract you whilst driving. This includes not answering the signaller on the Cab Radio if they call you at a critical time (which they shouldn't do - but stuff happens).
In fact many Train Operating Companies have a policy that using a personal phone on the move is automatically a dismissible offence (the only one there is AFAIAA).
It's just pure luck that no one was seriously injured or killed.
John