Reported accidents and injuries rose sharply on some areas of the Metro system in the past year.
MetroAccess accidents have increased by 172 percent and injuries on the curb-to-curb service for disabled and elderly customers increased by 30 percent, according to Metro’s Office of Safety.
There were 90 crashes in fiscal 2005, compared to 245 crashes in fiscal 2006, according to Metro statistics. Forty-five passengers were injured in fiscal 2005, compared to 58 in fiscal 2006.
“Right now,the numbers don’t look good,” said Fred Goodine, Metro’s chief of safety.
The previous MetroAccess operator followed Federal Transit Administration regulations and only reported serious accidents, he said. The new operator, MV Transportation, has been reporting serious accidents and very minor accidents, such as sideswiping a mailbox, Goodine said.
“We capture everything. We take every accident seriously,” he said.
All MetroAccess drivers are required to take a defensive driving course by the start of 2007. Video cameras are installed in all of the vehicles to record the driver’s actions.
Staff are also developing an accident-based standard as part of MV Transportation’s contract with Metro, said Steve Yaffe, chief operating officer for community transportation services at Metro.
Metrobus pedestrian crashes have increased by 17 percent in the past year, according to Metro’s Office of Safety. There were 34 pedestrians hit by buses in fiscal 2005, compared to 41 in fiscal 2006. Of the 41 people hit by buses, five died. However there were 83 less crashes this year, compared to last.
Metro is participating in regional group focusing on pedestrian safety, Goodine said.
Rail passengers received 14 percent more injuries this year compared to last year due to an increase in riders and crowded cars, officials said. Escalator injuries are down seven percent.
