Railroad safety

California regulators issued Thursday an emergency order banning train operators from using cell phones while on duty.

The Public Utilities Commission's decision came a day after confirmation that the engineer of a commuter train was text-messaging the day the train ran a red light and collided head-on with a Union Pacific freight train.

The accident in Los Angeles last week killed 25 people, including the engineer, and injured more than 130.

The National Transportation Safety Board found that engineer Richard Sanchez failed to brake before the collision and ran a red light that could have prevented the crash. The board said the tracks and signals were operating properly. The cause of the accident was human error.

The cell-phone issue was raised when two teenage train fans said they had exchanged text messages with Mr. Sanchez shortly before the accident. This caused the safety board to request the engineer's cell-phone records.

Metrolink, the commuter railroad involved, forbids operators from using cell phones on the job. Some other railroads do as well. But the rules are often ignored, said Michael R. Peevey, president of the commission that made the ruling.

The federal government has not issued a regulation of cell-phone use by railroad workers. California previously had no rule against it. Now violators can be fined up to $20,000 per violation or face having their operations shut down.

"Today's action will protect the public," Mr. Peevey said.

Such laws should not be needed. But they will save lives. National regulations should be passed to enhance railroad safety.