How Safe Are New York’s Train Systems?
A February collision between an SUV and a commuter train near Valhalla, New York claimed six lives and left fifteen people injured. It also left New York residents with serious concerns: are the state’s train and subway systems a safer transportation option than walking or driving?
According to one Newsweek article, the answer is a qualified yes – but the statistics are still grim.
Between May 2013 and March 2014, New York’s commuter-rail system claimed six lives and injured 126 people. Although more commuters are injured in subway accidents each year, the Federal Railroad administration lists only 84 deaths on the LIRR and 43 on Metro-North between 2004 and 2013 – far fewer than the 248 deaths suffered in subway accidents in just the past three years.
New York Subway Accident Deaths Decreased in Recent Years but Injuries Continue to Rise
According to a recent report from the MTA, the number of deaths in New York City subway accidents has decreased – but the number of injuries has risen slightly.
In 2013, the MTA estimated, 151 people had been hit in subway accidents, compared to 141 incidents the previous year. However, while 55 people lost their lives in these accidents in 2012, only 53 died from their injuries in 2013, according to the agency. This means that while fewer people lost their lives, more were injured, leaving the MTA to redouble its efforts to protect passengers and reduce injuries.
Study of Traumatic Amputations in Subway Accidents Reveals Sobering Facts
Thousands of people rely on New York subways every day in order to travel to and from work, school, and other events. The efficiency of the subway system has made quick travel possible in a number of places. However, like all forms of transportation, subway can be involved in serious accidents – and serious injuries can result when they do.
A 2006 study published in the journal American Surgeon examined reports of traumatic amputations suffered in subway accidents. The researchers examined trauma registry entries from 1989 to 2003. Their search revealed 41 patients who had arrived at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, having suffered the amputation or one or more body parts during a subway accident.
Six Killed in Tragic NY Commuter Train Crash
Five passengers aboard a Metro-North commuter train and the driver of an SUV were tragically killed Tuesday evening when the train collided with the black SUV, which had become stuck between the crossing gates in Valhalla. Fifteen other passengers were injured, some with serious burn injuries.
Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are combing through evidence to determine how the crash occurred, gathering data from the train and crossing gate events recorders, as well as witness testimonies, medical records and highway conditions at the time of the collision.
Metro-North Railroad Train Derailment Kills 4, Injures Dozens in New York
A southbound Metro-North Railroad train derailed around 7:20 am in the Bronx on December 1, killing four passengers and inflicting serious injuries on at least 60 people. According to The Wall Street Journal, the crash is being reported to be the result of the engineer not properly braking and going too fast around a tight curve just north of Manhattan.
The severity of this New York train derailment caused all seven passenger cars and the diesel locomotive pulling the train to leave the tracks, with two cars flipping onto their sides. The section of track where the fatal derailment occurred has an abrupt speed limit change, dropping from 70 mph down to 30 mph.