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Definition
running on Tramway track isolated from vehicle
lanes in Helsinki,
Finland A
tram accident is generally an accident in which a
tram is involved (
see a tram in :Image:A Tram in Helsinki Finland.JPG. When general traffic safety is evaluated, as in traffic accident statistics, any accident involving a tram or a
tram system can be considered to be a tram accident. Some
statistics concerned with
public safety collect information on any incident in a
tram or a
tram system.
General
Tram traffic is typically considered as environmentally friendly, efficient, comparatively safeEuropean Transport Safety Council: Social and economic consequences of road traffic injury in Europe, Brussels 2007. and, after
investments, is a relatively cheap way to transport passengers in city. A
tram typically travels with a relatively slow speed in cities, however, light rail vehicles may drive with a speed of 70 – 100 Kilometres per hour (approx. 44 - 60
Miles per hour).
Accident types
However, accidents do happen, and some accidents seem to be serious for light traffic. In tram accidents, a
person may be hit by a
tram, a tram can collide with another vehicle, or drive over a person. A tram can derailment after a
collision, in case of broken
tramway track, if any object on the rail lifts the
wheel from the track, in case of Junction (rail) failure, or if a tram drives with a far too high speed into a junction or curve. In some cases, a tram may even keel over. can be ensured with a good cabin and Closed-circuit television.
A person may also fall from a
tram or, despite safety systems, get jammed between the doors. Persons also fall on the rails while crossing them. Sometimes persons lose control of their vehicle (like a bike) when the wheels run along with the tramway tracks Ozanne-Smith J., and Sherry K.: Bicycle related injuries. Hazard, Edition No. 6, December 1990. Victorian Injury Surveillance System. http://www.campusglobal.org/muarc/VISU/hazard/haz06.pdf, retrieved on June 26th, 2007.. In some cultures people travel also outside the crowded trams, and are in danger of falling or being trapped between tram cars, or between a tram and any obstacle and vehicle on the road. People may also travel outside the trams for fun, for excitement, or under influence of intoxicants.
A person can also climb over a tram car, or in other ways get in the contact with the electric conductors or other electric appliances of a
tram, and get an electric shock. Occasionally, when a
tram is braking rapidly or collides, people may fall in a
tram or hit other persons or tram structures. In traffic safety statistics, accidents at tram stops and in the vicinity are sometimes evaluated. In these
accidents, passengers e.g. get hit by a car while coming out of a
tram or crossing the street to the tram stop. Even suicides, non-movement fatalities like falling from a bridge to electric lines, fires at stations, and "bridge strikes" (a vehicle hits railway bridge structures) can be marked in railway accident statisticsAnnual Report on Railway Safety 2005. Office of Rail Regulation, London, the UK. http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/296.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.. Vandalism may cause damage to tramway track,
trams, and even lead to derailment of a
tram.
Violence in
trams and at tram stops can be a concern when people estimate the safety of
trams. Also the tram driver should be protected against
violence and robbery (
see a driver's cabin in :Image:Tram driver cabin.JPG. and emergency hammer near a
tram door.
Analysis of tram accidents and consequences in the literature
Very limited information on tram accidents exists in
scientific literature.
In
Sheffield, UK, cyclists appear to be the group at highest
risk to be injured in tram accidents, followed by pedestrians and motor vehicle users Cameron IC, Harris NJ and Kehoe NJS: Tram-related injury in Sheffield. Injury Vol 32, Issue 4, May 2001, pp. 275-277. In Sheffield, less than one third of casualties had a bone fracture, and approximately every tenth injured person had a
hospital admission. In
Gothenburg, a majority of 60 % of fatally injured persons were under the incluence of Alcoholic beverage Hedelin Annika, Björnstig Ulf, and Brismar, Bo: Trams – a risk factor for pedestrians. Accid. Anal. and Prev. Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 733-738, 1996.. In Gothenburg, the Incidence (epidemiology) of non-fatal injuries was 3 per million tramcar-kilometres, and the
Mortality rate was 0.2 per million tramcar
kilometres. The most fatal tram accident in
Gothenburg happened when a high-speed runaway tram hit dozens of
pedestrians and several vehicles. The accident happened after a
technician manually released the
brakes automatically activated after a
Power outage.
The
Mortality rate of
pedestrians hit by a
tram seems to be much higher than the mortality of
pedestrians hit by a
motor vehicle. Typically the most seriously injured persons have been caught under or between
tram Hedelin Annika, Björnstig Ulf, and Brismar, Bo: Trams – a risk factor for pedestrians. Accid. Anal. and Prev. Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 733-738, 1996.. Non-impact absorbing parts at the side of the trams may lead to serious
head injury even at low speeds Unger R., Eder C., Mayr J.M., and Wernig J.: Child pedestrian injuries at tram and bus stops. Injury Vol. 33, Issue 6, pp. 485-488, July 2002.. . When a
person hits the
Sensor (yellow arrow), a shield (red arrow) launched avoids the person getting under the
wheels.In
Austria,
accidents of children at Bus stop or tram stops were analyzed within a 6-year period. 6 children were injured by trams. Accidents happened while crossing the
Tramway track, a child ran against a tram, a child was crossing at a
crosswalk or looked at wrong traffic lights. Most of the children hit the side of the
tram. In addition, 4 children were injured by a car at a tram stop. Unger R., Eder C., Mayr J.M., and Wernig J.: Child pedestrian injuries at tram and bus stops. Injury Vol. 33, Issue 6, pp. 485-488, July 2002.
Despite the fact that
safety measures should be taken to avoid any tram accidents, these accidents are not nearly the most typical injury. For example, in
Victoria (Australia),
Australia, injuries among adults 65 years and over were investigated. While falls (3382 cases) were mentioned as the major feature of injury, two adults were hit by a
car when crossing a road to a tramDay L., Kent S., and Fildes B.: Injuries among older people. Hazard, Edition No. 19, June 1994. Victorian Injury Surveillance System, Monash University, Accident Research Centre. http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/VISU/hazard/haz19.pdf, retrieved on June 26th, 2007.. In Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz, Poland, 81
autopsy were performed on persons who died in accidents involving rail-vehicles in 1992-2002. 20 % of the victims died in tram accidents, and 80 % died in
train accidents. The most common reason for death was a multiorgan failure. In tram accidents, 86 % of victims were
male. The victims of tram accidents did not suffer injury of the highest severity like
amputations.
In addition, some national authorities keep
statistics on tramway incidentsFor example, Annual Report on Railway Safety 2005. Office of Rail Regulation, London, the UK. http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/296.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.. absorbing materials are used in the
tram interiors.An example on an authority collecting accident and incident reports from national authorities is the
European Railway Agency. The Agency has a public safety database on railway licences, certificates, safety indicators, national safety rules, and accident investigationshttp://www.era.eu.int, retrieved on July 14th, 2007.. In the European Union, the safety of railways has been regulated with
European Union directive, which also require e.g. the collection of common safety indicator statistics from the member countries. In
European Union, common safety methods (CSMs) and common safety targets (CSTs) have been set for European railways.
Safety measures
Injury-reducing measures in the vehicle design and in the traffic area, especially at and near
tram stops, might reduce the
injury caused by tramsHedelin A., Bunketorp O., and Bjornstig U.: Public transport in metropolitan areas - a danger for unprotected road users. Safety Science, Vol. 40, Number 5, pp. 467-477, July 2002.. When evaluating general traffic safety, the safety of tram lines, train and tram crossings are mentioned to be an area deserving special attention Irk F.: CPTED Principles for Traffic Safety. In: Proceedings, 2003 International Symposium on Technology and Society, 2003. Crime Prevention, Security and Design. ISTAS/CPTED 2003. 26-28 Sept. 2003 pp. 41-43. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/9312/29612/01344610.pdf?tp=&isnumber=&arnumber=1344610, retrieved on June 26th, 2007..
The
trams, Tramway track, and the environment of a tram systems should be physically planned as safely as possible. Even physical
structures should be safe and minimize damage in case of
accidents. Various kind of stress factors and forces should be calculated and assessed to create a tram system with diminished possibility of structural failures, derailments etc. In case a tram rides in a
tunnel or on a bridge, various
fire,
derailment, and entrapment safety measures should be thought about. The
trams may contain
emergency brakes. Protective shields in the front of the
tram, "catching" people, avoid them getting underneath the tram (
see an emergency hammer in :Image:Emergency brake and emergency hammer next to the door in a tram.jpg and a catcher in :Image:Catcher under a tram.jpg).
Trams should be designed to have impact absorbing materials in front and side constructions. Lifting points can be marked for fire brigades to help rescuers to find safe and strong enough parts of the tram when e.g. lifting a tram to rescue a patient underneath it. Inside the tram the structures should also contain impact absorbing materials and round shapes instead of sharp edges (
see interior material in
:Image:Tram seat.JPG. Automatic door controlling sensors decrease the possibility of entrapment injuries (
see a tram door in :Image:Safety measures of a tram door.jpg. Handrails may prevent people falling in acceleration, curves and braking. Especially elderly people need seats and time to find one and sit before the tram moves. Trams can contain fire safe materials like low smoke and halogen-free cables, driver's Dead man's switch, and programmable logic speed controllersHongkong Tramways Limited: Safety and Reliability are our Top Priorities. In: The Company. http://www.hktramways.com/en/company/index.html, retrieved on July 8th, 2007..
planning of a
tram stop.The
fire brigades may carry special tools for tram accidents, like heavy extrication tools, Ground (electricity) equipment, and hydraulic
Jack (device) for trams. Some trams are able to drop some sand on the rails to increase the
friction during emergency braking. Interestingly, the most slippery season for trams is not necessarily an icy
winter, but seasons when
leaf fall from trees. A brush car can be used to clear the railsLehtikeli liukastaa ratikkakiskot. Helsingin kaupungin liikennelaitos, ajankohtaista 25.10.06. Article by Helsinki City Traffic in Finnish..
A
Quality management system may guide the safety of a
tram system. A tram system may have a control centre following the
trams, having radio contact with the drivers, and ability to contact and guide
Security guard, emergency dispatch centre, or repair patrols. A
tram typically carries first aid kit, a
radio and/or a phone, some tools, and a fire extinguisher. Basic
first aid, prodromic driving manners, safety courses, and protocols to follow in an
accident are taught to tram drivers.
Various
city and traffic companies have given safety and traffic instructions for passengers, pedestrian,
wheelchair users, cyclists, and
motorists For example, BBC: Idiot’s Guide to tram safety. In: Where I live: Nottingham. January 2004. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/features/2004/01/idiots_guide_to_tram_safety.shtml retrieved on July 8th, 2007.AA Roadwatch: Rail information - Road user safety. http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/rail/luas_guidelines.asp, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.Supertram: Supertram & Community - Safety. http://www.supertram.com/safety.html, retrieved on July 8th, 2007. These instructions tell how to behave in traffic to avoid accidents. For example, the instructions advise not to obstruct the tramway, suggest motorists avoid driving directly on the tramway track, and tell the
pedestrians to use designated crossways and to look both ways before crossing the
tramway track. merges with a vehicle
lane.Some city or areas have systemically developed new safety systems and planned new, safer
tram stops even in new locations (
see a tram stop in :Image:Some safety measures at a tram stop.jpg. These measures have included e.g. accessible
tram stops, safety staff, road-based improvements like speed humps near
tram stops, better
lighting of
tram stops, raised dividing strips to separate trams and motorists,
traffic light sequence changes, and electronic flashing “give way to trams” signs to warn other traffic in places where necessary (
see warning signs in :Image:Image-Tramway track merges vehicle lane.jpg) The Department of Infrastructure, Victoria: Safe Travel. www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/8F43871925BC9F24CA2570AD00834CEE?OpenDocument retrieved on July 8th, 2007.VicRoads: Think tram. http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/PublicTransportAndEnvironment/PublicTransportOnRoads/TramProjects/ThinkTram/ retrieved on July 8th, 2007.VicRoads: Think tram projects. http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/PublicTransportAndEnvironment/PublicTransportOnRoads/TramProjects/ThinkTram/ThinkTramProjects.htm, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.An Overview of Current Research Project at the Institute of Transport Studies Dept. of Civil Engineering Monash University. Paper presented at 28th CAITR on 6-8 December 2006. http://civil.eng.monash.edu.au/its/researchactivities/itsmonash_research_projects_2006.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007..
Local tram regulations may give requirements for the
passengers e.g. not to carry flammable, soiling or destructive chemicals or too space-blocking packages in tramsPortland aerial tram regulations. www.portlandtram.org/download.cfm?file=/downloads/pdf/TramregulationsfinalapprovedbyEMC.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.. Enlightenment of children and adults can be done also by using games and test For example, The Tracking Trains safety pages of Rail Corporation of NSW in Australia. http://www.trackingtrains.com.au/activities/safe_tracks.htm, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.
Naturally the state of traffic
legislation, traffic culture, and
safety culture in the tram and traffic system may have an influence on tram accidents. Tram stops can be separated with barriers from the street Unger R., Eder C., Mayr J.M., and Wernig J.: Child pedestrian injuries at tram and bus stops. Injury Vol. 33, Issue 6, pp. 485-488, July 2002.. Speed limits can be used near the tram stops, and strips painted between tramway trackOxley J., Corben B., and Diamantopoulou K.: Some cost-effective approaches to moderate vehicle speeds in high pedestrian activity environments. http://www.rsconference.com/pdf/RS010023.pdf?check=1, retrieved on June 26th, 2007.. Tram lanes can be also separated from other traffic. Trams may have their own traffic lights, which are integrated to work with normal traffic lights and stop the traffic when a
tram stops at a
tram stop. In some areas the
Junction (rail) are warmed during winter to avoid
ice and
snow disturbing the functioning of the
Junction (rail) (
see a warmed junction in:Image:A tramway junction.JPG). .
Tramway tracks, Junction (rail), trams, tram traffic lights etc. should be regularly inspected and maintained.
Rescue tactics
In a tram accident, the first mission is to prevent further accidents, and additional damage and
injury (
see an accident scene in :Image:General scenery.jpg. A
ground connection is used to prevent electric shocks from
overhead lines (
see an emergency ground connection in :Image:Earth connection.jpg. The accident scene is isolated, and
police or
fire brigade controls the traffic.
The accident scene is surveyed, and in the case of several injured persons, a triage process or other recognition of patients’ states is done. The most critically injured patients get more, faster, and better quality attention and treatment. In the case of a
patient underneath a
tram, lifting bags or
hydraulic jacks brought by fire brigades can be used to elevate the tram and release the patient (
see lifting points in :Image:Lifting points of a tram vs 2.jpg
and a tow car lifting a tram in :Image:A heavy towing truck.jpg. A crane (machine) can be used to lift a tram, too, or an overturned
tram. If a patient is trapped inside crushed structures, various kinds of
extrication tools, like
hydraulic spreaders,
Hydraulic rescue tools#Rams,
Hydraulic rescue tools#Spreader-Cutters, and
Circular saw can be used. of a
tram (red arrows). Notice the yellow light increasing the visibility of the tram on its sides.While cutting, lifting or turning an overturned tram or vehicle, structures often have to be stabilized to avoid the movement of the vehicle, to prevent the risk of movements of suspension, and to avoid falling of lifted vehicles on the patient or the members of the rescue crew Vehicle extrication at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrication, retrieved on June 18th, 2007.. Cranes, tow trucks, hydraulic jacks and rollers can be used to move a derailed tram back to its rails (
see a roller and winching in :Image:A roller under a tram.jpg
and :Image:Winching a tram.jpg).
After the
patients have been treated and transported, a police investigation on the scene continues. The victims and witness can be interviewed on the scene, or later. After investigation the vehicles which colided are allowed to be moved from the scene. In severe accidents, special traffic or accident investigation boards may analyze the accident and its consequences, and give recommendations to improve safety in traffic. After the
accident, the accident scene shoulde be cleaned. The tram, the tramway track and the
overhead lines may need repair (
see :Image:A repair truck in a tram accident.JPG,
:Image:A sweeping machine.JPG,
and :Image:Marks left on the road after a tram accident.JPG).
Picture gallery: a tram accident scene - collision of a tram and two buses
Image:General scenery.jpg|Gallery picture 1. A general view. A
triage has been done and injured
patients treated and transported.Image:Earth connection.jpg].Image:A heavy towing truck.jpg|Gallery picture 3. A heavy
tow truck lifting the head of a tram.Image:A roller under a tram.jpg]
bogie is lifted with hydraulic bags, and a roller is used to move the
tram onto its rail again.Image:Winching a tram.jpg] unit is
winch a
derailment tram back to its rail.Image:A repair truck in a tram accident.JPG] checks and repairs the
Pantograph (rail) and
overhead lines.Image:A sweeping machine.JPG] is used to collect litter and leaked fluids on the street.Image:Marks left on the road after a tram accident.JPG|Gallery picture 8. In this
accident, the
tram derailment when a
bus hit it (see the marks on the asphalt). The Railway track remained intact and needed no reparation.
See also
References
Definition
running on
Tramway track isolated from vehicle
lanes in
Helsinki,
Finland A
tram accident is generally an
accident in which a tram is involved (
see a tram in :Image:A Tram in Helsinki Finland.JPG. When general traffic safety is evaluated, as in traffic accident
statistics, any accident involving a
tram or a tram system can be considered to be a tram accident. Some statistics concerned with
public safety collect information on any incident in a tram or a tram system.
General
Tram traffic is typically considered as environmentally friendly, efficient, comparatively safeEuropean Transport Safety Council: Social and economic consequences of road traffic injury in Europe, Brussels 2007. and, after
investments, is a relatively cheap way to transport
passengers in city. A tram typically travels with a relatively slow speed in cities, however, light rail vehicles may drive with a speed of 70 – 100
Kilometres per hour (approx. 44 - 60 Miles per hour).
Accident types
However, accidents do happen, and some accidents seem to be serious for light traffic. In tram
accidents, a person may be hit by a tram, a
tram can collide with another
vehicle, or drive over a person. A tram can
derailment after a collision, in case of broken tramway track, if any object on the rail lifts the
wheel from the track, in case of
Junction (rail) failure, or if a tram drives with a far too high speed into a junction or curve. In some cases, a tram may even keel over. can be ensured with a good cabin and
Closed-circuit television.
A person may also fall from a
tram or, despite safety systems, get jammed between the doors. Persons also fall on the rails while crossing them. Sometimes persons lose control of their vehicle (like a bike) when the wheels run along with the
tramway tracks Ozanne-Smith J., and Sherry K.: Bicycle related injuries. Hazard, Edition No. 6, December 1990. Victorian Injury Surveillance System. http://www.campusglobal.org/muarc/VISU/hazard/haz06.pdf, retrieved on June 26th, 2007.. In some cultures people travel also outside the crowded trams, and are in danger of falling or being trapped between tram cars, or between a tram and any obstacle and vehicle on the road. People may also travel outside the trams for fun, for excitement, or under influence of intoxicants.
A person can also climb over a tram car, or in other ways get in the contact with the electric conductors or other electric appliances of a tram, and get an
electric shock. Occasionally, when a tram is braking rapidly or collides, people may fall in a tram or hit other persons or tram structures. In traffic safety statistics, accidents at
tram stops and in the vicinity are sometimes evaluated. In these accidents, passengers e.g. get hit by a car while coming out of a
tram or crossing the street to the tram stop. Even
suicides, non-movement fatalities like falling from a bridge to electric lines, fires at stations, and "bridge strikes" (a vehicle hits railway bridge structures) can be marked in railway accident statisticsAnnual Report on Railway Safety 2005. Office of Rail Regulation, London, the UK. http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/296.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.. Vandalism may cause damage to
tramway track, trams, and even lead to derailment of a
tram.
Violence in trams and at tram stops can be a concern when people estimate the safety of
trams. Also the tram driver should be protected against violence and
robbery (
see a driver's cabin in :Image:Tram driver cabin.JPG. and
emergency hammer near a tram door.
Analysis of tram accidents and consequences in the literature
Very limited information on tram accidents exists in scientific literature.
In Sheffield,
UK,
cyclists appear to be the group at highest
risk to be injured in tram accidents, followed by pedestrians and motor vehicle users Cameron IC, Harris NJ and Kehoe NJS: Tram-related
injury in Sheffield. Injury Vol 32, Issue 4, May 2001, pp. 275-277. In
Sheffield, less than one third of casualties had a bone fracture, and approximately every tenth injured person had a
hospital admission. In Gothenburg, a majority of 60 % of fatally injured persons were under the incluence of
Alcoholic beverage Hedelin Annika, Björnstig Ulf, and Brismar, Bo: Trams – a risk factor for pedestrians. Accid. Anal. and Prev. Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 733-738, 1996.. In Gothenburg, the Incidence (epidemiology) of non-fatal injuries was 3 per million tramcar-
kilometres, and the Mortality rate was 0.2 per million tramcar kilometres. The most fatal tram accident in Gothenburg happened when a high-speed runaway tram hit dozens of
pedestrians and several
vehicles. The accident happened after a
technician manually released the
brakes automatically activated after a
Power outage.
The Mortality rate of
pedestrians hit by a
tram seems to be much higher than the mortality of
pedestrians hit by a
motor vehicle. Typically the most seriously injured persons have been caught under or between
tram Hedelin Annika, Björnstig Ulf, and Brismar, Bo: Trams – a risk factor for pedestrians. Accid. Anal. and Prev. Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 733-738, 1996.. Non-impact absorbing parts at the side of the trams may lead to serious head injury even at low
speeds Unger R., Eder C., Mayr J.M., and Wernig J.: Child pedestrian injuries at tram and bus stops. Injury Vol. 33, Issue 6, pp. 485-488, July 2002.. . When a
person hits the
Sensor (yellow arrow), a shield (red arrow) launched avoids the person getting under the wheels.In
Austria, accidents of children at Bus stop or tram stops were analyzed within a 6-year period. 6 children were injured by trams.
Accidents happened while crossing the
Tramway track, a child ran against a
tram, a child was crossing at a
crosswalk or looked at wrong
traffic lights. Most of the children hit the side of the
tram. In addition, 4 children were injured by a
car at a
tram stop. Unger R., Eder C., Mayr J.M., and Wernig J.: Child pedestrian injuries at tram and bus stops. Injury Vol. 33, Issue 6, pp. 485-488, July 2002.
Despite the fact that
safety measures should be taken to avoid any tram accidents, these accidents are not nearly the most typical injury. For example, in
Victoria (Australia), Australia, injuries among adults 65 years and over were investigated. While falls (3382 cases) were mentioned as the major feature of
injury, two adults were hit by a
car when crossing a road to a
tramDay L., Kent S., and Fildes B.: Injuries among older people. Hazard, Edition No. 19, June 1994. Victorian Injury Surveillance System, Monash University, Accident Research Centre. http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/VISU/hazard/haz19.pdf, retrieved on June 26th, 2007.. In Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz, Poland, 81
autopsy were performed on persons who died in accidents involving rail-vehicles in 1992-2002. 20 % of the victims died in tram accidents, and 80 % died in train accidents. The most common reason for
death was a multiorgan failure. In tram accidents, 86 % of victims were male. The victims of tram accidents did not suffer injury of the highest severity like amputations.
In addition, some national authorities keep
statistics on tramway incidentsFor example, Annual Report on Railway Safety 2005. Office of Rail Regulation, London, the UK. http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/296.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.. absorbing materials are used in the tram interiors.An example on an authority collecting accident and incident reports from national authorities is the
European Railway Agency. The Agency has a public safety database on railway licences, certificates, safety indicators, national safety rules, and accident investigationshttp://www.era.eu.int, retrieved on July 14th, 2007.. In the
European Union, the safety of railways has been regulated with European Union directive, which also require e.g. the collection of common safety indicator
statistics from the member countries. In
European Union, common safety methods (CSMs) and common safety targets (CSTs) have been set for European railways.
Safety measures
Injury-reducing measures in the vehicle design and in the traffic area, especially at and near
tram stops, might reduce the
injury caused by tramsHedelin A., Bunketorp O., and Bjornstig U.: Public transport in metropolitan areas - a danger for unprotected road users. Safety Science, Vol. 40, Number 5, pp. 467-477, July 2002.. When evaluating general
traffic safety, the safety of tram lines, train and tram crossings are mentioned to be an area deserving special attention Irk F.: CPTED Principles for Traffic Safety. In: Proceedings, 2003 International Symposium on Technology and Society, 2003. Crime Prevention, Security and Design. ISTAS/CPTED 2003. 26-28 Sept. 2003 pp. 41-43. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/9312/29612/01344610.pdf?tp=&isnumber=&arnumber=1344610, retrieved on June 26th, 2007..
The trams,
Tramway track, and the environment of a tram systems should be physically planned as safely as possible. Even physical structures should be safe and minimize damage in case of accidents. Various kind of stress factors and forces should be calculated and assessed to create a tram system with diminished possibility of structural failures,
derailments etc. In case a tram rides in a
tunnel or on a bridge, various
fire, derailment, and entrapment safety measures should be thought about. The trams may contain
emergency brakes. Protective shields in the front of the tram, "catching" people, avoid them getting underneath the tram (
see an emergency hammer in :Image:Emergency brake and emergency hammer next to the door in a tram.jpg
and a catcher in :Image:Catcher under a tram.jpg). Trams should be designed to have impact absorbing materials in front and side constructions. Lifting points can be marked for
fire brigades to help rescuers to find safe and strong enough parts of the tram when e.g. lifting a tram to rescue a patient underneath it. Inside the
tram the structures should also contain impact absorbing materials and round shapes instead of sharp edges (
see interior material in :Image:Tram seat.JPG. Automatic door controlling sensors decrease the possibility of entrapment injuries (
see a tram door in :Image:Safety measures of a tram door.jpg. Handrails may prevent people falling in
acceleration, curves and braking. Especially elderly people need seats and time to find one and sit before the tram moves. Trams can contain fire safe materials like low smoke and halogen-free cables, driver's Dead man's switch, and programmable logic speed controllersHongkong Tramways Limited: Safety and Reliability are our Top Priorities. In: The Company. http://www.hktramways.com/en/company/index.html, retrieved on July 8th, 2007..
planning of a tram stop.The
fire brigades may carry special tools for tram accidents, like heavy extrication tools,
Ground (electricity) equipment, and hydraulic Jack (device) for trams. Some trams are able to drop some sand on the rails to increase the friction during emergency braking. Interestingly, the most slippery
season for trams is not necessarily an icy winter, but seasons when
leaf fall from trees. A brush car can be used to clear the railsLehtikeli liukastaa ratikkakiskot. Helsingin kaupungin liikennelaitos, ajankohtaista 25.10.06. Article by Helsinki City Traffic in Finnish..
A
Quality management system may guide the safety of a tram system. A tram system may have a control centre following the
trams, having radio contact with the drivers, and ability to contact and guide
Security guard, emergency dispatch centre, or repair patrols. A tram typically carries
first aid kit, a
radio and/or a phone, some tools, and a fire extinguisher. Basic first aid, prodromic driving manners, safety courses, and protocols to follow in an accident are taught to tram drivers.
Various
city and traffic companies have given safety and traffic instructions for
passengers,
pedestrian, wheelchair users,
cyclists, and
motorists For example, BBC: Idiot’s Guide to tram safety. In: Where I live: Nottingham. January 2004. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/features/2004/01/idiots_guide_to_tram_safety.shtml retrieved on July 8th, 2007.AA Roadwatch: Rail information - Road user safety. http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/rail/luas_guidelines.asp, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.Supertram: Supertram & Community - Safety. http://www.supertram.com/safety.html, retrieved on July 8th, 2007. These instructions tell how to behave in traffic to avoid accidents. For example, the instructions advise not to obstruct the tramway, suggest motorists avoid driving directly on the tramway track, and tell the pedestrians to use designated crossways and to look both ways before crossing the
tramway track. merges with a vehicle
lane.Some city or areas have systemically developed new safety systems and planned new, safer
tram stops even in new locations (
see a tram stop in :Image:Some safety measures at a tram stop.jpg. These measures have included e.g. accessible tram stops, safety staff, road-based improvements like speed humps near tram stops, better lighting of tram stops, raised dividing strips to separate trams and motorists,
traffic light sequence changes, and electronic flashing “give way to trams” signs to warn other traffic in places where necessary (
see warning signs in :Image:Image-Tramway track merges vehicle lane.jpg) The Department of Infrastructure, Victoria: Safe Travel. www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/Internet/transport.nsf/AllDocs/8F43871925BC9F24CA2570AD00834CEE?OpenDocument retrieved on July 8th, 2007.VicRoads: Think tram. http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/PublicTransportAndEnvironment/PublicTransportOnRoads/TramProjects/ThinkTram/ retrieved on July 8th, 2007.VicRoads: Think tram projects. http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/PublicTransportAndEnvironment/PublicTransportOnRoads/TramProjects/ThinkTram/ThinkTramProjects.htm, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.An Overview of Current Research Project at the Institute of Transport Studies Dept. of Civil Engineering Monash University. Paper presented at 28th CAITR on 6-8 December 2006. http://civil.eng.monash.edu.au/its/researchactivities/itsmonash_research_projects_2006.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007..
Local tram regulations may give requirements for the
passengers e.g. not to carry flammable, soiling or destructive chemicals or too space-blocking packages in tramsPortland aerial tram regulations. www.portlandtram.org/download.cfm?file=/downloads/pdf/TramregulationsfinalapprovedbyEMC.pdf, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.. Enlightenment of children and adults can be done also by using games and test For example, The Tracking Trains safety pages of Rail Corporation of NSW in Australia. http://www.trackingtrains.com.au/activities/safe_tracks.htm, retrieved on July 8th, 2007.
Naturally the state of traffic
legislation, traffic culture, and safety culture in the tram and traffic system may have an influence on tram accidents. Tram stops can be separated with barriers from the street Unger R., Eder C., Mayr J.M., and Wernig J.: Child pedestrian injuries at tram and bus stops. Injury Vol. 33, Issue 6, pp. 485-488, July 2002..
Speed limits can be used near the
tram stops, and strips painted between
tramway trackOxley J., Corben B., and Diamantopoulou K.: Some cost-effective approaches to moderate vehicle speeds in high pedestrian activity environments. http://www.rsconference.com/pdf/RS010023.pdf?check=1, retrieved on June 26th, 2007.. Tram lanes can be also separated from other traffic. Trams may have their own
traffic lights, which are integrated to work with normal traffic lights and stop the traffic when a tram stops at a
tram stop. In some areas the
Junction (rail) are warmed during winter to avoid ice and snow disturbing the functioning of the Junction (rail) (
see a warmed junction in:Image:A tramway junction.JPG). .Tramway tracks, Junction (rail), trams, tram traffic lights etc. should be regularly inspected and maintained.
Rescue tactics
In a
tram accident, the first mission is to prevent further accidents, and additional damage and
injury (
see an accident scene in :Image:General scenery.jpg. A
ground connection is used to prevent electric shocks from overhead lines (
see an emergency ground connection in :Image:Earth connection.jpg. The accident scene is isolated, and
police or
fire brigade controls the traffic.
The accident scene is surveyed, and in the case of several injured persons, a
triage process or other recognition of patients’ states is done. The most critically injured patients get more, faster, and better quality attention and treatment. In the case of a
patient underneath a
tram, lifting bags or
hydraulic jacks brought by fire brigades can be used to elevate the
tram and release the patient (
see lifting points in :Image:Lifting points of a tram vs 2.jpg and a tow car lifting a tram in :Image:A heavy towing truck.jpg. A
crane (machine) can be used to lift a
tram, too, or an overturned tram. If a patient is trapped inside crushed structures, various kinds of extrication tools, like
hydraulic spreaders, Hydraulic rescue tools#Rams,
Hydraulic rescue tools#Spreader-Cutters, and
Circular saw can be used. of a tram (red arrows). Notice the yellow light increasing the visibility of the tram on its sides.While cutting, lifting or turning an overturned tram or vehicle, structures often have to be stabilized to avoid the movement of the vehicle, to prevent the risk of movements of suspension, and to avoid falling of lifted vehicles on the patient or the members of the rescue crew Vehicle extrication at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrication, retrieved on June 18th, 2007.. Cranes, tow trucks, hydraulic jacks and rollers can be used to move a derailed tram back to its rails (
see a roller and winching in :Image:A roller under a tram.jpg
and :Image:Winching a tram.jpg).
After the patients have been treated and transported, a police investigation on the scene continues. The victims and witness can be interviewed on the scene, or later. After investigation the vehicles which colided are allowed to be moved from the scene. In severe accidents, special traffic or accident investigation boards may analyze the
accident and its consequences, and give recommendations to improve safety in traffic. After the
accident, the accident scene shoulde be cleaned. The tram, the
tramway track and the
overhead lines may need repair (
see :Image:A repair truck in a tram accident.JPG, :Image:A sweeping machine.JPG,
and :Image:Marks left on the road after a tram accident.JPG).
Picture gallery: a tram accident scene - collision of a tram and two buses
Image:General scenery.jpg|Gallery picture 1. A general view. A triage has been done and injured patients treated and transported.Image:Earth connection.jpg].Image:A heavy towing truck.jpg|Gallery picture 3. A heavy
tow truck lifting the head of a
tram.Image:A roller under a tram.jpg]
bogie is lifted with hydraulic bags, and a roller is used to move the tram onto its rail again.Image:Winching a tram.jpg] unit is winch a
derailment tram back to its rail.Image:A repair truck in a tram accident.JPG] checks and repairs the Pantograph (rail) and overhead lines.Image:A sweeping machine.JPG] is used to collect litter and leaked fluids on the street.Image:Marks left on the road after a tram accident.JPG|Gallery picture 8. In this
accident, the tram derailment when a bus hit it (see the marks on the asphalt). The Railway track remained intact and needed no reparation.
See also
References
