TRAMS - A RISK FACTOR FOR PEDESTRIANS

In Gothenburg tram injuries were identified to be an important cause o f traffic injuries and fatalities (48%) among pedestrians. During the summer middle-aged men, often under the influence of alcohol, were oft en severely injured and the injury rate was also high during the autum n. A majority (60%) of those fatally injured were under the influence of alcohol. Most injury events happened at or near a tram stop. The mo st serious injuries arose when the victim landed under a tram. In 1992 , a runaway tram caused a major disaster, killing 10 pedestrians and i njuring 30. The injury reducing measures the tram company has now star ted to introduce include safety railings at tram stops, side barriers on the tramcars to prevent people from falling under the tram and lowe r speeds near tram stops. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.