Tram derailments and collisions

Tram derailments are often caused by damaged track, collisions with obstacles such as other vehicles or pedestrians, junction failures, or excessive speed at a junction or curve. Additionally, collisions may occur between trams due to faulty junctions or poor driving.

Passenger accidents

Trams coming to a sudden stop may cause injuries to passengers on board. Passengers may also slip, trip or fall on the tram or the tram platform. Blind passengers may particularly be at risk of falling off a tram or getting injured by closing doors.^{[citation needed]} In areas of overcrowded tram systems, illegal passengers are in danger of falling off or being trapped between tram cars. Fire aboard a tram puts passengers at risk of severe injury or death.

Additionally, passengers may be struck by a car while exiting the tram or while waiting at a tram platform. Such incidents are also taken into account during tram public safety studies.^{[citation needed]}

Pedestrians and cyclists

While collisions with cars are the most common form of tram accident, cyclists and pedestrians are the group most at risk of death during tram collisions. Cyclists may experience a loss of control if bicycle tires get jammed in tramway tracks.^[4] More rarely, members of the public may also climb over a tram car, or in other ways get in contact with the electric conductors or other electric appliances of a tram, and receive an electric shock.

The mortality of pedestrians hit by a tram seems to be much higher than the mortality of pedestrians hit by a motor vehicle^{[citation needed]}. Typically most seriously injured people have been caught under or between tramcars.^[5] Non-impact absorbing parts at the side of the trams may lead to serious head injuries even at low speeds.^[6]

Tram stops

When evaluating general traffic safety, the safety of tram lines and train and tram crossings are given particular attention.^[11] Some cities or areas have systemically developed new safety systems and planned new, safer tram stops. These measures have included 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, speed limit changes near tram stops, and electronic flashing "give way to trams" signs to warn other traffic in places where necessary^{[12][13][14][15][16]} Tram stops have also been separated with barriers from the street in some locations.^[6]

Tram design

Structural design of trams can minimize the risks to tram drivers, tram passengers, pedestrians, and passengers in other vehicles in various kinds of tram-to-tram, tram-to-vehicle, and tram-to-pedestrian collisions.^[17]

For example, some trams contain emergency brakes for passengers to access. Both icy winters and falling leaves pose a threat by making the rails more slippery. Therefore, some trams are also able to drop sand on the rails to increase the friction during emergency braking. A brush car can be used to clear the rails.^[18]

Automatic door controlling sensors also decrease the possibility of entrapment injuries. In Toronto, the CLRV streetcars have a skirt added to the front of the car covering the coupler to prevent passengers from being dragged under the car's wheels^{[citation needed]}. Common safety features onboard tram often include driver's vigilance control systems and programmable logic speed controllers.^[19] A tram also typically carries first aid kit, a radio and/or a phone, some tools, and a fire extinguisher.

Tram control centres

A quality 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 guards, emergency dispatch centre, or repair patrols.

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