Statistics published by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that public transportation use is safer than driving. The federal agencies’ data shows that it’s ten times safer for individuals to use public transportation like trains and buses than being in a personal vehicle. Nonetheless, public transit safety is a concern for many people.
Public transportation crashes are rare. However, these accidents often result in multiple casualties when they happen.
The use of public transportation does reduce auto accidents just because more people take trains or buses than cars. NHTSA and FTA statistics show that individuals who use public transportation at least 40 times per year become involved in half the crashes as people who take less than 20 car rides a year do.
Earlier research conducted by the federal agencies included a survey of the eleven metro areas in the country with the highest public transit use. They averaged 5.8 traffic fatalities per 100,000 public transit rides compared to 10 deaths per 100,000 per car trips. Commuter or intercity railroads are reportedly 18 times safer than driving.
No mode of transit is perfect. Things can go wrong, and accidents that cause catastrophic injuries can occur. You may be entitled to monetary compensation if a collision has left you injured. It may also be possible for you to file a wrongful death lawsuit if you’ve lost a loved one in a crash. Proving liability isn’t easy. A personal injury attorney can work to build a case that helps you get the compensation you need and deserve.
