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Data
Are the frequency of these incidents increasing? Or is it that we just have more access to reports of these incidents trough social media? Is anyone (e.g., the T) collecting data on when and where these happen so that maybe something could be done about it, if at all reasonably possible?
In Paris on Metro line #1, there are plexiglass barriers that prevent any anyone falling in the pits at the stations at most, possibly all, of the stations on that line. The train stops at precise locations to align the train car doors with sliding doors in the plexiglass barriers so that there is no obstruction to passenger ingress or egress from the train. I have not seen this on the other 13 lines of the Paris Metro. A very expensive solution that is probably unworkable here given the amount of manual control of the trains that exist (i.e., human drivers that can't be as precise as a computer) but I'm just raising that as one solution It's possibly the ultimate solution.
Platform Screen Doors
Work well when every train has the same configuration, which is obviously not so on the MBTA. A retracting fence would be a better solution - something that slides down into the platform when the train arrives.
While we're on the subject, why did this woman just...waltz off the platform??
It's Bizarre
In most of these recent vids, it looks as though the people are just walking along without a care in the world and then... splat. It's like the T is causing mini-strokes or something.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
I blame cellphones and the
I blame cellphones and the dumbing effects of social media.
The dumbing down of society
began long before social media. Consider the whole "OMG, I can't program my VCR because I'm too lazy to RTFM" trend of the 1980s.
1980s VCRs WERE hard to program
You kids today with your fancy remote controls and your push-button doodads and your glossy black DVRs. Back in my day, we had to get on our hands and knees to program VCRs by moving these stupid little dials and pins around. And then we had to hope the VCR wouldn't gum up and result in all the tape jamming and spitting out like some nightmare scene out of Sleeper or something.
After we climbed to the VCR uphill in the snow both ways, of course.
Some data to consider
Percentage of ridership that winds up in subway pit versus astromomical cost to implement and maintain platform screens systemwide. Plus, given the T's track record (no pun intended) with keeping trains, faregates, escalators, elevators, and the like reliably in service, I'm not so sure I'd want to entrust them with a mechanism that could prevent people from exiting and boarding trains should it fail.
Forgot I had an account here...
But that's irrelevant. My take on the increasing amounts of people falling on tracks and assaults on MBTA operators (they actually ARE connected) is the increase of ****tards living in Boston. Either people are getting stupider by the minute or the schools are failing us.
Stay behind the Yellow Line = Common Sense
Let people off the train before boarding (I see this violated a lot too) = Common Sense
DO not assault MBTA employees (or anyone else for that matter) = Common Sense.
Common Sense seems to be going down the toilet lately...
There are other reasons
Increased use of ambien.
Increased use of antidepressants.
Aging population.
Cell phone usage - the T recently added service in the tunnels and this might be one result.
Blip verts (kidding)
Increasing sleep deprivation in the general population.
Falling off platforms - it isn't just for drunks anymore!
Platform edge doors
The Paris Metro also has these on line 14; the current line 14 opened in 1998 and has run as a completely automated line the entire time. Line 1 was later retrofitted to match, with both automation and platform edge doors. In London, the Jubilee Line Extension has PEDs but older stations on the line do not.
Given the different door layouts of the 01800 cars and the older cars, it's impractical to add PEDs to the Red Line right now.
hmm
must be that zombie infection going around causing all these random jump ins. Cue Walking Dead theme song...
Was that a suicide attempt ?
Looking at the initial frames of the video, she appears to stop, several steps away from the edge, looking forward toward the pit. She then appears to purposely walk to and over the edge. This does not appear to be a situation where she was distracted or stumbling about.
I hope that some cinsider the possibility of a suicide attempt and if so, that she gets help.
The woman said she was
The woman said she was sleepwalking.
which proves
Swirly's point from above..
lots of sleep aids cause this... auto pilot.
Kinda why I'll never take Lunesta or Ambien... it affects you long after you've taken it.
Doesn't prove a point
Sleepwalking isn't only caused by sleep aids or other pharmaceuticals. Point not proven.
Nancy is right in the specific case
We don't know if this particular woman was taking drugs that are associated with sleepwalking or just sleepwalking.
However, the "sleepwalking after taking sleep aids" problem on a population basis is pretty serious. I did a quick literature search and there is much going on in the medical and health journals regarding sleepwalking, sleep driving, sexsomnia, etc.
Now that the government is back open, have a look at a quick pub med search: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=ambien+sleepwalking
I don't buy it. If more
I don't buy it. If more people were sleepwalking they'd be walking into traffic all over the state and getting hit by cars as often as they are falling into MBTA track pits.
Who says they aren't?
It's more common to be hit by a car, while also less likely for the incident to be filmed. So it won't be reported. Also, walking right into a street is entirely different from falling into a pit. Falling in is scary. Walking out into traffic doesn't even necessarily mean you get hit.
ambien?
dont hate on ambien, thats some good shit
I'd like to the T to provide
I'd like to the T to provide some guidance on what to do when someone falls onto the tracks. What is the best way to halt the trains. People can jump into the pit to help but what if the faller is injured? HMF35
They do. The guidance is to
They do. The guidance is to not jump into the pit, but to alert the operator in the station, who is able to cut the power to the tracks. If you ever suggest that as a possibility, you get a lot of would-be internet heroes talking about how they would jump down no matter what. Not immediately moving the person is preferable to avoid causing them to get electrocuted or exacerbating any spinal injuries they may have.
Flag down the train from the platform as well
Having someone go to the attendant is important but they may not get there in time. Someone should be at incoming edge of platform to warn conductor.Repeatedly raise and lower hand to signal conductor.
Tip For Pit Safety
Most tunnel stations (possibly all - I haven't made a comprehensive survey) have a warning light to tell you if a train is approaching. It is usually somewhere within the portion of the tunnel from which a train will approach, generally a white light mounted so as to be visible from the pit and the platform. Once you've seen that light and identified it in one station, it's a pretty obvious identification in any station. When waiting for a train, look towards the tunnel. At some point, you'll spot that light going out.
It is lit when a train is NOT approaching, but goes out when a train's arrival is imminent (I believe it is tripped when the train is at the preceding station, but don't take that as gospel; just my best guess.) As long as that light is lit, being in the pit is relatively safe.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Pretty accurate
But it has nothing to do with being in the previous, AFAIK. I'm pretty sure it is just set based on a certain number of signal blocks, which the blocks themselves vary in length. But anyway, yes, if that white light goes out, you need to hustle.
---
The best thing someone can do in the pit is walk, if able, to the end of the platform where the train's front end will stop. There's usually a ladder and/or stairs at both ends of the platform, but it is safest to put in some distance from approaching trains. No matter what, if you fall off a northbound platform, head to the northernmost end of the platform. And likewise for south/east/west, etc. Also note that sometimes there is a cavity under platforms where you could theoretically take shelter. Usually there is no third rail there (Park St being an exception, not a rule, of course). But you could still come ridiculously dangerously close to the train's "shoes" (they receive electricity from the third rail, and even when they're on the non-3rd rail side, they are electrified).
I also recommend not touching any rails, though that might not matter. I don't know electricity all that well, but when a train is present, it is returning electricity through the regular rails while drawing from the third rail. So while the third rail is just about always dangerous, I personally wouldn't want to tempt anything by touching even the regular rails with a train present. I do not know whether anything could possible happen with path of least resistance being the rails themselves and not you, but I really just wouldn't even tempt it.
Basically, just don't fall into the pit. K? It's not designed for you to be there. Also, while I do not know what my instincts will do when the situation happens, but I wouldn't blindly jump in and help. You need a clear head to make the best decision. Ultimately, someone flagging the train at the approaching end of the platform is probably the single most important thing.
Oh, and no matter what, never. Ever. Ever. Touch anyone that's under/almost under a train, and tell them not to move or touch the train. Basically just treat the entire underside of the train as electrified.
Srsly, guise. Electricity. Just don't do anything unless your trained to handle that particular kind of situation. K?
Ground
Can't be that bad. The surface portions of the Green Line (and most streetcar systems) also return current through the rails.