Platform Safety: It’s Not Just for Them

A common denominator across virtually every large urban area on the globe is the use of mass transit trains.  This form of transportation has brought unparalleled levels of mobility and opportunity to hundreds of millions of people worldwide.  However, it has also brought the challenge of ensuring platform safety to the forefront of public discussion in many areas.

As with most public protection issues, the discussion tends to center around costs vs. expected benefits.  For example, in New York City, there’s currently an ongoing debate over whether the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) should erect platform safety devices (PSDs) in its subways.

On one side are those concerned around the city’s budget, which has been stretched almost to the breaking point due to the economic crisis of the past few years.  On the other are public safety advocates, who point out the following grim statistics:

• Each year since 2001, over 100 persons have been struck by NYC trains.
• A significant percentage of those accidents resulted in fatalities.  For example, in 2012, 55 people died when they were hit by city trains.  In 2011, 47 died, and in 2010, 51 died.
• Measures such as erecting PSDs are proven to reduce platform accidents in every city in which they’re tried.

The Larger Issues

While the numbers of subway accidents are few when compared to, say, traffic wrecks, platform safety is nonetheless an issue that requires attention in every city with a mass transit system.  While opinions vary, there are steps that can be taken immediately to enhance public safety on train and subway platforms.  These include:

• Increased visibility of safety signage.
• Public awareness campaigns, involving coordinated efforts among both public agencies and private groups.
• High-level discussions of the issues surrounding platform safety, including strategies for mitigating the costs involved in erecting PSDs and similar measures.

As with any positive societal change, the movement towards enhancing platform safety begins with raising public awareness.  Only after that can constructive steps be taken.