A tram driver was caught smoking an electronic cigarette while at the controls – by a passenger who snapped her in the act.Err, this is news?
She was pictured by a commuter travelling from his home in Whitefield to his job in finance in Sale.
The 35-year-old passenger, who asked not to be named, said he saw the driver rummaging in her handbag while the tram was stopped at Shudehill – before she smoked the e-cig all the way to Market Street, where he got off.All the way to Market Street, eh? It must have been hell on earth to witness that ... through plexi-glass.
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He said: “What I saw wasn’t acceptable. I couldn’t believe it when she pulled out an e-cigarette. My first thought was for passenger safety – it’s clearly a distraction and the driver shouldn’t have anything that’s distracting.”It is quite incredible what chicken littles can deem as a danger to safety these days.
The driver was sitting in front of a sign saying ‘Please do not distract the driver while the tram is moving’.Nothing was distracting the driver except, perhaps, some pathetic prodnose taking pictures. Would this effete plank be equally concerned if she was scratching her nose while driving a mode of transport which doesn't require steering? On this evidence, probably yes.
The passenger added: “There should be policy on this. Anything that is taking the driver’s attention away from their job has got to be a bad thing. Luckily I was about to change trams – if I’d had to stay on it would have bothered me more and more.”And this precious tart should never be bothered by anything at all. It's his birthright, so it is.
Metrolink chiefs told the M.E.N. they have asked staff not to smoke the e-cigs on the network as a courtesy to others – and are developing policies which could prohibit passengers from using them too.And why is this, Metrolink? Any evidence of harm you might like to point to?
Human resources boss Marie Daly said: “We have taken the steps to develop rules and procedures for the whole company which stipulate that e-cigarettes should only be used in designated areas."Designated areas being, presumably, the pavement.
“In the case of one of our drivers using an e-cigarette, we have spoken to the driver in question to ensure their understanding of our position regarding this subject, more from a safety point of view as the use of an e-cigarette may mean they could be distracted from their job.”Oh do fuck off.
Remind me, how the hell did this country survive two world wars?
