Boston transit agency to ban cell phones

BOSTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Bus, train and trolley drivers on Boston-area mass transit will be banned from having cell phones with them at work, the agency chief said Saturday.

Daniel Grabauskas, general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, said the new rule would be "zero-tolerance," with employees fired for any violation, The Boston Globe said Saturday. Grabauskas announced the proposed change after a trolley driver who was allegedly texting at the time ran his trolley into a stationary train Friday, injuring about 50 people.

"Leave it at home. Leave it in your car. Leave it with a friend. Leave it in a locker. But you are not to get on board that bus, or board a trolley, or a train to operate that train and have a cell hone on your person or in the cab. Period," Grabauskas said.

Drivers will be terminated after a third violation of the ban but Grabauskas said Friday's crash might justify firing on a first offense.

Stephan G. MacDougall, president of the Boston Carmen's Union, told the Globe he supports the rule change, calling it "the right thing to do."

Grabauskas plans to put the rule into effect as soon as employees can be notified about it.