The Portland Oregon Transit Agency has said that they had to let go 40 year old Lahcen Qouchbane after a video that a passenger recorded on September 16th showed him texting while driving along Interstate 5. The Transit Agency says this isn’t the first time that people have complained about this particular driver, so his eventual sacking shouldn’t come as a surprise. Lahcen’s lawyer, Jonah Paisner, says that this is all a mistake, which is an excuse you’ll often hear until one day you’re walking down the street and a bus just happens to mow down you and your family.
Laws are being passed all around the country banning driving and texting, with some states even proposing that warning labels be plastered on their devices, similar to how cigarette packages already do, stating that using your device while operating a 2,000 kg piece of steel going over 100 km/h may not be the wisest thing in the world to do.
Forget about operating heavy machinery, have you ever seen someone walk into a wall or door because they were texting? Raise your hand if you’ve been guilty of that yourself because I know I’ve done it. Just put your phone down people, or use it when you’re at rest in a place like a cafe. Can it be so hard? Earlier this year we shared a pretty graphic video that the Welsh Police Department directed in order to scare the living hell out of children and it should be required viewing for everyone who is even thinking of shooting off that text saying “LOLOMFG” to their best friend.
It’s really awesome that we’re in a point in history where a little cheap piece of plastic that fits in your pocket can be used to contact anyone, anywhere, at anytime, but when you can die because of that same little toy … it’s time to get your priorities in order.