Transit Police & Security – Using Technology driven Communications to promote Passenger Safety

Imagine a loved one riding public transport during their daily commute. Perhaps your mother, father, your child, or a friend. It might be a short hop on a light-rail car or a long journey upon a bus. On most days, it can be a quietly packed ride on the way to work or school, filled with familiar faces.

On a daily basis I take transit to and from work. There are moments where I cringe at delays and get frustrated when my cell coverage drops out, but when this happens I like to take the time to look away from my screen and double-check my surroundings.

During these “detached-from-tech” moments, I have witnessed various levels of nuisances and threats on our local light-rail system. Thanks to the many different touch-points I’ve encountered throughout my transit journeys, it was easy to find and contact the appropriate assistance in the moment.

Thinking back to your loved one riding public transportation, do they know what action to take during a situation that may risk their safety, or the safety of others?

Below are great examples of how some of the top 15 public transit authorities in North America*, have used technology driven communications to promote passenger safety.

(*According to the Sustainable Cities Mobility Index.)

Websites

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As a dedicated website outside their main transit-centric website, Maryland Transit Administration is focused on reminding passengers to say something, when they see something questionable with SecureTransit.org.

Within the award-winning site, there are examples of suspicious behaviour and tips along with how to report them to the right authority.

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Social Media

Most transit authorities extend their online communications beyond their websites to popular social media networks.

Depending on the level of engagement and communication with ridership and the community, some transit authorities may choose Twitter or Facebook.

SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) has a long list of separate Twitter accounts with real time information for specific routes on bus, rail, subways and trolleys. For safety, they also have a specific account @SEPTASafety sharing transit safety tips and information.

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Calling for Help via Mobile Devices

As a large number of passengers have their faces buried in their smartphones, transit police authorities like the Metro Vancouver Transit Police encourage riders to report non-emergency police matters discreetly on transit property via text message.

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In addition to alerting TTC staff and transit police in person, via intercoms at waiting areas, and alarm strips on vehicles, the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) has a dedicated app available for incident reporting.

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Public Service Announcements about Safety (PSAs)

The Dumb Ways to Die campaign from Melbourne, Australia, features a catchy tune and cartoon reminding everyone to be safe around trains. Because of its catchiness, this viral safety campaign turned into a game for download featuring these charming characters. Earlier this March, a newer version of this game was launched worldwide featuring cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) technology.

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Taking a trip to “Safetyville” through online videos reminds viewers that “safety begins with you”, while exploring common safety-related issues in and around train tracks and stations within Metro Los Angeles.

 

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Video Surveillance Systems

With citizen journalism on the rise due to the increase of accessibility to technology, we were reminded of the risks recently when a passenger was assaulted for attempting to take a photo of their assailant while riding the bus. As important as it is to report incidents as soon as possible, we are reminded that safety should always come first.

Video surveillance is not only an essential part of the Intelligent Transportation Systems’ (ITS) ecosystem for all transit agencies, it adds to the safety for all passengers, staff and operators, as detailed in our latest case study with Chapel Hill Transit.

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What other aspects of communication and technology do you find increases the assurance of safety for all passengers and staff for your transit authority?

As part of the Safe Fleet family, we continue the traditions of our founding entrepreneurs, by shaping fleets across North America with disruptive safety technologies. In the coming months, keep an eye out for the latest tools demoed at local workshops and transit trade shows.

At the end of the day, technology constantly changes and evolves to the ever-growing needs of all transit stakeholders. There are endless tools available for staff and passengers that ensure the transit riding experience is as smooth and safe as possible. Combining various levels of communication and technology together helps the big picture of ensuring staff and passengers are safe.

Keep up-to-date with transit updates by following our Transit showcase page on LinkedIn.