TTC approves plan to randomly test transit workers for drugs and alcohol
Posted October 19, 2011 3:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – The Toronto Transit Commission has now approved a plan to randomly test transit workers for drugs and alcohol.
This comes after a fatal TTC bus crash on Lawrence Avenue about two months ago. The driver was charged with criminal negligence causing death and possession of cannabis.
One member of the commission is on board with the idea. Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong told 680News riders should be assured they have nothing to worry about.
“I think that we need to put the safety of the passengers on the bus first, and I find it completely unacceptable that there could be a circumstance where a bus driver could have dope in kit,” Minnan-Wong said.
“We should everything to make sure that no bus driver gets onto their bus with a buzz or that they’re stoned.”
One TTC rider told CityNews, “what they do in their private life is up to them. They should be respected as citizens. But, if they’re on the road and they have 50-60 people they’re responsible for, they should be allowed to be tested.”
Air traffic controllers aren’t tested, along with most school bus drivers, with the exception of some who work for private companies.
But, the Toronto Sun reported Greyhound Canada and Coach Canada bus lines do test their employees who make frequent trips to the United States because of rules there.
The U.S. Federal Transit Administration has been randomly testing transit workers since 1995.
Random drug and alcohol testing for transit employees is new territory in Canada.
