Subway Drivers Expect to Hit 1 Person Every 5 Years
Last year in 2012, 139 people were hit by New York City subway trains. Of those, 54 died and some received national attention for the circumstances of the death. In most cases, the death is purely accidental while select few were purposeful. 2012 is a five year high for deaths and there doesn't seem to be a solution.
Code for a person on the tracks is a €12-9.€ Most subway operators will experience at least one of those codes every five years. In a long-term career of a few decades, it's sadly not uncommon for operators to see the train hit ten people and at times kill those accident victims.
Such a disturbingly high rate of accidents is due to the accessibility of the tracks from the platform. Most subway stations in New York City, as in other areas of the country, have a platform that is open to the train tracks that sit several feet below. If someone falls from the platform, it may become difficult to climb out in time before a fast approaching train can stop.
There were two incidents in the New York subway where one passenger pushed another on to the tracks. Considering the crowds and push to reach a train in time, it's almost shocking that there aren't more accidents due to heavy rush hour ridership. Other busy cities have placed safety doors around subway platforms to prevent these problems.
These doors are a simple concept most have seen if they used a train at the airport or in other well-traveled areas. The sliding doors keep the tracks closed to the platform until the train has arrived. Once the train doors are opened, the safety doors open as well, seamlessly preventing falls into the track area.
Unfortunately, the safety doors come with a price tag. The sprawling 108 year-old New York subway system cannot cover the costs of a total safety renovation. At about $1 million per station, the cost is staggering. It would total into $500 million. Instead, safety announcements and warning signs are used to shoo passengers away from the platform edge.
Until the subway safety system is fully renovated, the number of accidents isn't expected to fall. Subway operators will continue to expect the sad numbers of riders to fall under the trains. That's unless a more affordable safety system can be created for subways. Otherwise, accidents and injuries are bound to occur.
If you or someone you know has been hurt in any kind of accident, please contact a personal injury lawyer at http://www.bestaccident-attorneys.com
Code for a person on the tracks is a €12-9.€ Most subway operators will experience at least one of those codes every five years. In a long-term career of a few decades, it's sadly not uncommon for operators to see the train hit ten people and at times kill those accident victims.
Such a disturbingly high rate of accidents is due to the accessibility of the tracks from the platform. Most subway stations in New York City, as in other areas of the country, have a platform that is open to the train tracks that sit several feet below. If someone falls from the platform, it may become difficult to climb out in time before a fast approaching train can stop.
There were two incidents in the New York subway where one passenger pushed another on to the tracks. Considering the crowds and push to reach a train in time, it's almost shocking that there aren't more accidents due to heavy rush hour ridership. Other busy cities have placed safety doors around subway platforms to prevent these problems.
These doors are a simple concept most have seen if they used a train at the airport or in other well-traveled areas. The sliding doors keep the tracks closed to the platform until the train has arrived. Once the train doors are opened, the safety doors open as well, seamlessly preventing falls into the track area.
Unfortunately, the safety doors come with a price tag. The sprawling 108 year-old New York subway system cannot cover the costs of a total safety renovation. At about $1 million per station, the cost is staggering. It would total into $500 million. Instead, safety announcements and warning signs are used to shoo passengers away from the platform edge.
Until the subway safety system is fully renovated, the number of accidents isn't expected to fall. Subway operators will continue to expect the sad numbers of riders to fall under the trains. That's unless a more affordable safety system can be created for subways. Otherwise, accidents and injuries are bound to occur.
If you or someone you know has been hurt in any kind of accident, please contact a personal injury lawyer at http://www.bestaccident-attorneys.com
