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Trends Look: A New Brand of Safety

Aug 18, 2016
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Traveler Experience

Last updated January 2017

Traditionally, safety is what you can and can’t do to stay, well, safe. Pretty boring right? Transit organizations don’t seem to think so. As an industry that is constantly innovating, it comes as no surprise that transit is pushing the envelope on what safety can be. It is crucial for agencies to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to safety. It is refreshing to see that many transit organizations are implementing, creative, highly innovative, and sometimes comedic safety initiatives to create a new brand of safety for their contemporary riders, employees, and the public at large.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently unveiled its Transit Asset Management “Final Rule,” putting a proactive spin on traditional asset management within the transit enterprise. This program, which is as much about safety as it is about management and funding, will see transit agencies proactively managing their assets, keeping a closer eye on infrastructure and vehicle maintenance.

Another innovative take on safety comes from the FTA’s new Safety Management Systems (SMS) program. This pilot program was first launched with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and is currently looking to expand. The initiative sees agencies looking at safety from the perspective of how different aspects of their organization contribute to safety hazards. Looking at factors like how the agency positions its resources, what procedures they have in place, how their employees are trained, and a variety of others, the SMS program is designed to improve safety.

Other high level initiatives have come into fruition in recent months, including the Federal Rail Administration’s program awarding rail projects across the U.S. with grants to cover the implementation of new speed-control technology to prevent serious rail accidents. With so many innovative and exciting new safety programs popping up, it is clear safety is number one for North America’s federal transportation organizations.

On an agency level, there have also been some extraordinary public safety programs implemented this year. In Los Angeles, California, the public have been treated to massive rail expansions, which were paired perfectly with the edgy, yet fun “Safety Begins with You” public service campaign from LA Metro. This campaign struck a hilarious cord with the public and will surely contribute to the safety of passengers who are new to LA Metro’s rail service.

Regional Transportation District (RTD) Denver’s recent approach to safety has been very similar. With the expansion of their rail lines, RTD adopted the “Dumb Ways to Die” campaign from Metro Trains Melbourne. This campaign became a viral phenomenon for Metro Trains Melbourne, and looks to be a popular way to promote safety to RTD Denver passengers as well. With both RTD Denver and LA Metro promoting safety through these comedic means to great success, will this set a standard across the transit industry, raising the bar to an extraordinary level for transit safety promotions?

With both the FTA and transit agencies promoting safety through innovative and highly creative means, it’s looking like riders, transit employees, and the general public will have nothing to worry about when it comes to transit safety.


 
Vicky Abihsira is the Director, Integrated Marketing at Trapeze Group where she owns the product marketing strategy and integrated marketing strategy including all our marketing channels such as web, blog, podcast, email, social, and PR. Originally from Toronto, she now lives in Miami with her husband and two kids.
 
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