Unsuck DC Metro: Things Never Change at Metro

Tim · 624 weeks ago

In "Coming to a Metro Near You" news:

Seattle Metro Escalator Strangles Man to Death
Previously cited for safety violations http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020761377...

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@davinpet · 624 weeks ago

Remember that the trains are still running in manual mode. So, the trains can't run by themselves. This is an accident waiting to happen

10 replies · active 623 weeks ago

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transitizen 78p · 624 weeks ago

Signaling and automatic train protection are still in place so it's not like the operators are just out there driving the trains around blind. The train protection system automatically prevents trains from getting too close together.

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Guest · 624 weeks ago

....especially on the red line....

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Former MD resident · 624 weeks ago

Oh, you mean the system that failed and let that accident happen in 2009? Yeah, let's rely on that. Good idea.

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transitizen 78p · 624 weeks ago

As far as I am aware, all the track circuit replacement since the accident has been completed, and they still do constant checking and maintenance to prevent that from happening again.

Even a system that fails that spectacularly but rarely is safer than the implication of the poster above, which is that operators are just driving trains as you would drive a car on the road. The train cannot just go through a red stop signal.

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SammyDC · 624 weeks ago

Trains have gone through red stop signals on WMATA before.

Tim · 624 weeks ago

In "Coming to a Metro Near You" news:

Seattle Metro Escalator Strangles Man to Death
Previously cited for safety violations

seattletimes. com /html/localnew/2020761377_elevatoraccident1xml.html

derp · 623 weeks ago

There are stop signals for trains, and they have been disobeyed.

In one instance, this caused a derailment with passengers on board. Other trains have run signals when not in service.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2010/02...

Guest · 623 weeks ago

Yeah we know. Also when there are problems with the signals and reported the employees get the shaft.

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Guest · 624 weeks ago

Cell phones are not to be used while operating trains and buses.....period.

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anon · 624 weeks ago

Who says he was texting?
He could of had instructions on how to operate the train written down and was looking down to try and remember them.
=D. I kid I kid.

Beach Bound · 624 weeks ago

Just checking flight availability to the Bahamas!

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Dan Stessel · 624 weeks ago

Hey! Our boy was checking Unsuck and FixWMATA's twitter feeds to find out about delays or track problems because the train's connection with the comm center cut out. You're welcome.

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Stevey Jones · 624 weeks ago

Maybe this is why the stopping is so jerky. Too busy texting to concentrate.

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NoNo · 624 weeks ago

Let's be glad that we have (he has) no 4G reception in the tunnel ;-)

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@JimLCunningham · 624 weeks ago

Nice shooting, Tex! Thanks for that.

WMATA is going to say you shouldn't distract drivers by taking pictures of them.

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NoNo · 624 weeks ago

Honestly, if we complain about that to metro, all we will get is that the Union will ask for darker tainted glass between the riders and the drivers.

Heather · 624 weeks ago

I've seen bus drivers read newspapers at stoplights, or answer their phones, as well. Nice to know Metro believes in safety......

2 replies · active 609 weeks ago

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Guest · 624 weeks ago

Metro pays close attention to safety issues when the issues are highlighted in the news or there is an accident or fatality.
Safety officers should riding trains and buses. Managers do not babysit the employees and watch to see if they are going by the rules unless a manager or OCC supervisor has it in for an individual for filing a complaint.

Usually incidents are covered up by managers because they are favorites/cronyism. The same toxic cronyism allows for the perks; promotions, grooming their friends and family members while other interested persons are excluded because of obvious but the wrong reasons.

For one employee, it took a Judges mandate to promote an employee to the position of supervisor.

Guest · 623 weeks ago

Really?

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@JimLCunningham · 624 weeks ago

Hey... this reminds me...

Those cameras they're putting in the trains now... are they going to be able to see the drivers?

Clearly, they should.

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

Heather · 624 weeks ago

Jim,

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Oh wait, sorry, were you joking? ;-)

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hrh king friday 13 · 624 weeks ago

Will they update us when the J-Jizzle gets him rehired next month?

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Gloria Simms · 624 weeks ago

To: WMATA
I thought it was against the law to use or place a person phone without their permission. I see this operator has been advised to seek an attorney against Metro.

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DEAN · 624 weeks ago

FYI even in the fatal accident, the driver couldnt do anything to stop the train either, so if it is in the cards it will happen. No matter who is behind the wheel or texting!!! wake up people, we live in a NON PERFECT WORLD.

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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guest · 624 weeks ago

lol wut

Larry Harris · 624 weeks ago

I didn't know Metro had such a policy. I don't use Metro a lot but on the few occasions I have used it, I have seen the train operators, kiosk "help", etc. on the phone on several occasions. Most notably, on the 7th Street corridor, I see bus drivers on the phone ALL the time, every day. Is that allowed? If not, "they", meaning the "inspectors", need to just sit in a vehicle on 7th Street, near Verizon Center and watch. Knowing DC has a NO talk or text law, I'm amazed at the number of police AND metro drivers who do it on a regular basis. Not only that, NO seatbelts? REALLY!?!?!?

6 replies · active 623 weeks ago

Guest · 624 weeks ago

The zero tolerance policy should be more strictly enforced. The Union will get this worker his job back after months. Perhaps these employees should not be in operations if they have these addictions.

There is no reason for an employee who drives or operates a train, plane or automobile to be on a phone. All of these poor decisions came about when the cell phone first came out and there were no real mandated rules for use by the states.

Now we are see the results of a poor' back asward system' playing catch-up after the deaths and injuries of people on their phones.

Same with the internet. Before it was opened up for public it's use should have been a much narrower scope and strict guidelines for use, restrictions etc. and protections.

um... · 623 weeks ago

You have to be kidding about the internet.
CISPA specifies that you may not access a site without permission. Did the owner of this site give you permission to access it? No? In the eyes of the law, you are a criminal. This is taking it to an extreme, but the law is too narrow and obsolete *because* it was created when the internet was young. Naturally, politicians let obsolete laws sit, because it doesn't affect the bottom line of the organizations lobbying. Not only that, but these organizations have the capital to leverage the law against anyone they see as threatening. See: Aaron Schwartz, (others as well).
As much as you'd like to think regulations help you, they can be manipulated to infringe upon your rights (see: argument that you are a criminal). Often, unfortunately, it's not the intent of the law that's leveraged, but the letter of the law.
Not only that, but politicians are not innovators. They are not creating technologies essential to what is now the internet. Had there been more regulation, it may have been impossible to realize these innovations, as they'd be unintentionally illegal.

I mostly agree with you, but laws cannot be reasonably realized until technologies are understood. Laws SHOULD be reactionary, as it's only after ( in this case) technologies have matured a bit for their implications to be understood.

I may be blue, but I understand the importance of my rights, and I think it would benefit you to be concerned as well.

See forkthelaw.org

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Guest · 623 weeks ago

...you must not have small children.

SeriesOfTubes · 623 weeks ago

... you must not know how to monitor your children or (even easier) set up restrictions on your network (DNS servers, firewalls, blacklists, logging).

You can google how to do this.
First make the little arrow go into the long box at the top where it says "unsuckdcmetro.blogspot.com...", then erase all that and type in "www.google.com" (no, you don't need the https://). Then press enter.
Now, the trick is to put relevant words into the little box in the middle.
I'll leave the rest up to you. (hint: you can use google to learn how to use google)

Your ability (or lack thereof) to monitor your children should not impede upon the rights of others.
This is a difficult concept, so I understand your frustration.

bet · 623 weeks ago

Yeah smarty.... do that on all the computers everywhere....ha! Do you think kids don't go elsewhere to use computers?
Look at movie ratings. You haven't created a monster yet.

wastedBreath · 623 weeks ago

You can't control everything, just teach well and do what you can.
Wanting to limit everyone's rights so that your children won't look at porn is a bit selfish. You cannot control the internet. Even with regulation ( and I don't know what you think the newest regulations are about, but CISPA is not about keeping children from seeing boobies and butts-- it's giving the government full reign to search and collect the information you've communicated over the internet, including emails and pretty much everything else. It will allow third parties to do so in the name of Uncle Sam. I'm sure there are other implications that I'm not up to date on. If CISPA stays ( which I can't imagine due to the far reaching and dangerous implications), when the first major data breach occurs, it will not be a good thing.
Regarding controlling internet content-- look up the " dark web". Considering the very STRUCTURE of the internet (many millions of distributed nodes-- essentially every computer can serve data) it is FUNDAMENTALLY IMPOSSIBLE to control the internet. Even the countries that ban sites and firewall the hell out of their citizens cannot control what's on the internet and what their citizens can access ( look up the TOR project).
Obviously, my breath is wasted, but if you would limit other's freedom to have your children not look at porn, you are mistaken about what these laws do, misunderstand the nature of the internet, and are dangerously selfish.
Let's not get distracted and pretend ANY future laws will limit access to porn, barring immoral stuff like kids and snuff. The way Our Great And Honorable Government works relies heavily on time invested in convincing lawmakers one way or another. You've heard that time is money, and, in this case, it couldn't be more true. Who do you think has more time to convince lawmakers-- John Smith, who has to go to work, mow the lawn, and sit behind his children as they surf the web, or representatives of major organizations? Consider that these organizations are paying people to spend time convincing politicians ( this is called " lobbying"), and you can see how time and capital are directly related. Its worth investing in, they can make sure their industry stays as profitable as possible and even manipulate laws to their own benefit (and this includes the porn industry!)

Our government, for good or evil, is GREATLY affected by money. It's cute to think they 're only thinking about the best interests of Joe Schmidt.
Please, for all of our sakes, educate yourself about your rights and get involved.

In any case, the government will NEVER attempt to save your children from tits.

VeteranRider · 624 weeks ago

He's reading up on how Metro will be spending tens of millions of dollars to redesign the stations into 21st century facilities.

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guest · 624 weeks ago

This is just a train people.............. Most of you are aholes anyway. It literary almost drives itself it is safer than the bus. Is it worth firing someone and taking away future employment opportunities because you showed his face? Oh did I mention no one was killed and that you all got to your destination safely. Might I add none of the people that have negative responses have a job that they can't make one mistake. Whoever posted this picture is a coward.

13 replies · active 622 weeks ago

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 624 weeks ago

Whomever.

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guest · 624 weeks ago

ass. Whoever or Whomever you know what was meant.

anon · 623 weeks ago

Whoever. It's a subject.

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Md2Dc · 624 weeks ago

They're ran in manual mode. The jerky stops happen b/c the operator has the control.

David · 624 weeks ago

Jerky stops happen because of mix and match rail cars. It will jerk even in ATO (auto). There is nothing the operator can do to "jerk" the train.

anon · 623 weeks ago

Except repeatedly hit the brakes.

Anony-moose · 624 weeks ago

Is that you, Dan?

Matt G · 622 weeks ago

Dan knows how to spell properly, at least.

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John · 624 weeks ago

Metro is a transit agency. Not a jobs program. Fucktard.

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eed017 · 623 weeks ago

Also, the word you wanted is not literary. It was literally. In my job, if I make a mistake, no one dies. Are you so supportive of the operator's right to send another inane text that you fail to discern the difference?

Guest · 623 weeks ago

hey Yeah coward huh
I know some cowards and they try and harm the women at metro. I think they are the cowards.

Vienna Bound · 623 weeks ago

'it literary almost drives itself" - this isn't the bookmobile, it's Metro.

justSayin · 623 weeks ago

...but, if you get fired from metro and end up driving the bookmobile, please understand that this person is being facetious and it doesn't ACTUALLY drive itself.

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Torrey · 624 weeks ago

All of y'all are ridiculous. I'm sorry I forgot y'all are perfect!!! Sike yea right. I'm positive you guys do things on your job that you're not suppose to you just haven't been caught yet. You all need to watch your backs & your fronts. Don't make fun of some one else downfall,cause you 2 will see that same ground face 1st.

9 replies · active 623 weeks ago

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Santos · 624 weeks ago

Nice words of wisdom. Did you even complete middle school?

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Torrey · 624 weeks ago

I have 2 degrees thank you very much. But you people are just cruel!!!!

eed017 · 623 weeks ago

Yes, with a credit card and five minutes, I can get two degrees just a worthless as yours.

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Anony-Moose · 623 weeks ago

Obviously, niether of these degrees was in English.

Pale Rider · 623 weeks ago

Are you a Phoenix?

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dddddda · 624 weeks ago

Yep, I made a mistake at my job on Monday. Of course, since it was a paperwork error and didn't put anyone's life or safety in jeopardy...

Texting/talking/surfing the net/reading/whatever while driving a vehicle is not a "mistake," it is an intentional and flagrant disregard for the LIFE of the people you transport for a living.

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Torrey · 624 weeks ago

You should buy a car. Oh my paperwork!! Yep I've had my life almost ruined by you people who mess up paperwork.

dddddda · 623 weeks ago

First of all, NO. I'm so incredibly sick of this attitude. I do not need to spend thousands of dollars owning and operating a car because Metro needs to do better...I already spend thousands of dollars paying taxes and fares that support Metro. The transit system should work as intended, IN GENERAL, and the least we can ask is that their staff follow the agency's own rules, some of which are LAWS (i.e., a bus driver doing the same).

Second, and I don't now if you meant this but I am putting this out there, if you think that I would use a cell phone while driving, YOU ARE WRONG. I do drive on occasion. I set my GPS (if necessary) before pulling out, and then LEAVE THE PHONE ALONE. RESPONSIBLE people understand that they have lives (their own and others', even if they're the only one in THEIR car) in their hands while operating a vehicle, and follow the LAW and COMMON SENSE and don't fiddle around with their phone while in motion.

Finally, outside of healthcare and death row staff, please tell me what career fields put people's lives in danger with a paperwork error? Mine required a phone call, email, and uploading a document to a website to fix. While it was inconvenient (mostly for me), no one was going to die because I accidentally put the wrong code on the top of a document. You've shown yourself to be quite ignorant, but surely you understand the difference between "caused me inconvenience" and "put my life (as in, actual life...you know, that state where you keep breathing with your bodily functions intact) in danger."

Guest · 623 weeks ago

....this is a jobs initiative for DC and Metro will never change sorry to say. The politicians will not change a thing and they are fearful of loosing votes.

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Mee · 624 weeks ago

He who is without sin, cast the first stone!

1 reply · active 623 weeks ago

Ever Wonderin' · 623 weeks ago

I can't! I'm in the hospital with a concussion, broken leg and lung damage from being in the crash when he was texting and not paying attention to his driving.... ahem...

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tricky dick · 624 weeks ago

I'm one of the firs people to criticize Metro but this is bit over the top. The train is stopped at a platform, and a train is on tracks. I understand complaints when it's a bus driver, but I have no problem with a train operator checking a text at a stop. I guess i'm in he minority on this one though.

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Matt · 624 weeks ago

First of all, lets dispense with the "that train is stopped" non-sense. That train is NOT stopped at a platform. It is in motion between stops. Two ways to tell this.

First, look out the window and you can see the motion blur. If the train was stopped, you would see the landscape, not a green blue. Also, if it was stopped at a platform, you would see the platform, not a moving blurry green landscape. Duh.

Second, look at the position of the control lever his right hand is on. All the way back is stopped. It is at nearly half way up. The train is probably moving at least 35-40 mph at that setting.

Now as for the notion that this isn't a big deal. Excuses being it's on rails, it practically drives itself, the risk is very minimal. BULL. Tens of thousands of pounds of train, plus hundreds to thousands of people on board, moving at 40mph is not "minimally risky" no matter how you slice it. Here's why:

Remember the big red line crash in 2009? That train operator was alert and paying attention. The signal system that "practically drives itself" failed. There was a train in its path around a curve. Since the train operator was paying attention, she saw the train and reacted immediately dumping the emergency brakes. Sight line testing of the curve and where the braking marks are on the track prove that she acted immediately, as soon as the train came into her view. The short distance between it coming into view and impact was not enough distance to stop the train. But it was enough distance to bleed off about 5mph in braking. That may not seem like a lot. But when it comes to physics, the impact forces change exponentially with small small changes in speed and momentum. Plus the train was no longer pushing forward under power. Had she been distracted for those 3-5 seconds between it coming into view and impact, there would have been no braking, no reducing speed, and no reduction in momentum. That train would have plowed into it at full power, 55mph, with every set of wheels on every car pushing it further and further into the crash. It would have been exponentially worse than it was. Lots more bodies.

So, if you think that this isn't a big deal, think again.

3 replies · active 609 weeks ago

Annonomous · 624 weeks ago

I know people who reported safety incidents who work at Metro and nothing was done. If the employees report safety incidents and ignored, what makes you think any higher ups care?
I know of a woman who was harrassed when she reported unsafe situations and she was forced out by the harassment of other employees. This is WRONG! Not even the courts highlighted the situation, it did not mean anything to judges in high places. So what makes you think that people who should oversee us the riders CARE!

The elected an appointed officials in DC Government and the Federal Government are all negligent when it comes to oversight needed to keep Metro Safe and correct the ignorance of those appointed to positions.

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Guest · 623 weeks ago

...we don't know if that driver was alert and paying attention or not. She is not here to ask her. May God bless her family who has to miss her each day.
While problems existed employees at Metro I was told were retaliated against when they reported failures.

Matt · 622 weeks ago

Wrong. We don't need to ask her. Did you read anything I wrote? The marks on the tracks indicate exactly where the emergency brakes were applied. And that is with a second or two of the stopped train coming into view. It would not be possible to engage the brakes any sooner because the stopped train was not visible around the curve. She was absolutely paying attention, or that would not have happened. There is no other explanation, unless you think the train was being towed by Thomas the Train and could see for her?

Md2Dc · 624 weeks ago

Wrong, the train was moving. Watch the news.

metrogal · 624 weeks ago

Texting kills.....I am glad he got caught.....better now than when the train hits someone or goes off track....he deserves to be fired since he knew the rules...they have a zero policy and employees know about it and sign that they know.....so really no excuse.....shameful and scarey...probably has done it times and times before....good riddens !

2 replies · active 623 weeks ago

Guest · 623 weeks ago

metrogal I think he is reading.
How about 2 or 3 people riding in the cabin and talking...isn't this unsafe too? I see this all the time.

dddddda · 623 weeks ago

It's *less* dangerous. The studies that have been done on drivers indicate that talking to a passenger is less dangerous than talking on the phone (hand-held OR hands-free) is less dangerous than texting/emailing/reading. Still, it's more dangerous than driving distraction-free.

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Ann · 624 weeks ago

If Metro is dedicated to safety, they should remove the opaque glass so that all train operators can be seen by their passengers instead of only some being visible. Metro clearly will not proactively police itself so we the passengers must do so.

3 replies · active 623 weeks ago

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Mama JJ · 624 weeks ago

Since nobody has said it in this article yet....
.... wait for it...
... here it comes...
.
.
.
.
Apparently you believe in slavery!

Guest · 623 weeks ago

It does seem like they are picking on African American males but the truth is there are no other races driving trains. I knew a white lady once but she is gone now. Like to know what happened to her.

Guest · 623 weeks ago

Ann- that would teach the bad guys how to drive the train and we do not want to train them.

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dvn8v · 623 weeks ago

What makes me sit up and take notice is that he was fired. According to the usual Metro logic, they'd argue that there's no way to tell who this driver is. There's no time/date stamp on the photo, there's no nametag visible in the photo, no location markers to know what line it was... According to the past WMATA rhetoric, this man is a ghost and there's no way to identify him.

Remember all those incidents where they can't tell who was operating the bus or managing the station at the time/place of the complaint, even if the complainant provided a picture? Maybe Metro will have to start actually taking those seriously.

I've worked places where you were not allowed to carry your cell phone on the job. At the beginning of the day, you would lock it in your own personal lock box (sort of like a mailbox in an apartment building), and at lunch or at the end of the day, you'd get it back out of the box. How hard would it be to implement this at WMATA?

1 reply · active 623 weeks ago

Metro Ryder · 623 weeks ago

From what I understand, the problem with that is the radios suck. They use their mobiles as back up.

Annie · 623 weeks ago

Possible caption to photo: "Metro: We encourage everyone to try our newly-designed mobile site"

1 reply · active 623 weeks ago

dddddda · 623 weeks ago

While I get that you're joking, that's actually *one* thing I have to give Metro credit for. I used their new mobile site recently and it was pretty tight. They seemed to strike a nice balance between limiting functions (good on mobile sites because, duh, it's slower than on a computer) and getting the essentials in there. The person who designed it...and ONLY the person who designed it...needs a bonus.

guest · 623 weeks ago

OT: reports have it that the explosions in Boston were IED's; NYC and DC going to high alert.

when you go into metro tonight, keep a serious eye peeled for unattended bags, etc. (!)

Derped · 623 weeks ago

Is the "model station" (see linked article) just another word for "slow upgrade"? The improvements seem more like... common sense modifications.
Once all of the stations have completed their "pilot run", we'll have a modern system.
https://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressRelea...

Anony-moose · 623 weeks ago

Anybody wondering where unsuck is? Is he taking another vacation week?

3 replies · active 623 weeks ago

jkuchen · 623 weeks ago

I was wondering that as well. Were the 10 days to be 10 calendar or business days?

dcn8v · 623 weeks ago

Hoping nothing is wrong! Unsuck, are you ok?