Safety on Public Transportation

For many people, public transportation offers a convenient and affordable way to travel long distances in very little time. Whether you are riding the bus, taking the subway, or hopping on a street car, there are plenty of ways to join fellow commuters as they get to where they need to go. That said, this convenience is often coupled with some risk, which means that every commuter must take it upon themselves to remain safe while travelling.

Here are some tips that you can follow in order to prevent personal injury on buses, subway trains or streetcars:

1. Sit down whenever possible: unless someone is in greater need than you, try to sit down if you can. If the bus or subway comes to a sudden stop, you will be much safer if you are seated than if you are standing.

 

2. Always hold something secure: there are many times where hoping to sit down in a transit vehicle is wishful thinking. If you have to stand, make sure that you are holding on tightly to a metal bar or overhead rubber handle. If you do not do this, it will be difficult to argue that you were conducting yourself safely in the event of a traffic incident involving the bus.

 

3. Don’t lean on the doors: many commuters will lean against the closed doors of the bus or subway car when they are pressed for space, or simply feel tired. While such an act may seem relatively mundane and risk-free, door malfunctions have occurred on transit vehicles before, and to lean on one at this time could have disastrous consequences.

 

4. Stand behind the yellow line: this piece of advice applies to subways, and should be internalized by every subway commuter. Subway stations can be extremely busy, and it is easy to lose your footing after being pushed or nudged by someone trying to navigate the station. If you have not left significant room between you and the tracks, then to be pushed at the wrong time could result in an accident. As an additional note, you may consider putting your phone away while you wait on the platform, as you should be aware of your surroundings as much as possible.

 

5. Move to the back of the bus: just like in a subway station, it is very important to be in a safe location when standing on a moving bus. Standing near the back when the bus is crowded creates room for new commuters who are entering the vehicle, and can protect you from unnecessary accidents. In particular, make sure never to stand in front of the yellow line near the front entrance of the bus, as this is one of the most dangerous places to be in the event of a sudden break.

 

Keeping the above principles in mind will be very helpful to anyone who relies on public transportation and wants to make their trip as safe as possible. If you have been injured while using public transportation, call the Jasmine Daya & Co. team at 416-967-9100 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.