Article about Keolis engineers and their driving record

[harshaw]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/0 ... story.html

The article discusses that many Keolis engineers have a poor driving record based on DMV data. The implication is that poor driving would lead to poor safety operating trains, or more explicitly that Keolis engineers would operate trains dangerously. The article discusses that many engineers have been disciplined for blowing signals. However, the article doesn't state how often trains are operated over the track speed limit.

As a commuter for the last 8 years I can't say as I have ever witnessed dangerous behavior - and I time the trains with a speedometer occasionally. Obviously anecdotal evidence is not scientific.

[edbear]

This is second article in a week on Keolis' loco engineers. The previous article stated that besides the poor driving record, the engineer's operating infractions included running through a stop signal and running through a grade crossing where the protection was malfunctioning and notice had been given that it was not properly working.

[jbvb]

I think the Globe is a little over the top leading the story with "More than 85% (of engineers) have at least one driving infraction". It's not easy to drive for even 20 years with a completely clean record, let alone 40. But the number whose license has been suspended is concerning. Of course, their due process is similar to that for various other public employees, who frequently appear in the news restored to their jobs with back pay after offenses in the range between "here's your check, these people will escort you out" and "ride 'im out of town on a rail".