In the wake of the Hoboken train crash that left one woman dead and more than 100 others injured, there are still a lot of questions left to be answered. What led to the train wreck? How can we keep train wrecks like this from happening? Until we can figure out how to prevent train crashes, what can passengers do to raise their chances of surviving a train accident?
Where Should I Sit to Survive a Train Crash?
NBC’s Today ran a segment discussing how train passengers could improve their chances of surviving a train accident. The piece covered several train passenger safety tips. One of the things mentioned in the segment talked about where you can sit when you get on a train to lower the likelihood that you suffer a catastrophic injury or are killed in a train crash.
According to a railroad expert from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) featured in the Today report, the safest place to sit on a train is in the middle, which is the least likely part of the train to derail if there’s a crash. The ends of the train are where the energy is, according to the expert, which means that’s where the most damage will probably occur. In addition, some experts say that you should sit in a seat that faces the rear of the train. This is because if the train hits something head-on or stops suddenly, you will be thrown back into your seat. If that happened while you were sitting facing the front of the train, you could be thrown from your seat.
How Do I Escape a Train Wreck?
Another subject brought up during the Today broadcast regarded how passengers can escape a train’s wreckage following a crash. According to the NCDOT expert, the best way to escape a train wreck is often through the window. However, if it’s possible to get to an exit door safely, you should do that instead. If you reach the door and it hasn’t already been opened by the train engineer, another transit employee or an emergency responder, look for emergency exit instructions near the door, which should explain how to open it manually.
Have you ever been in an accident while riding public transportation? If so, what happened, and what do wish you’d known then that you know now? Share your story in the comments section below or on our Facebook page. Maybe it could help others if they’re ever in a similar situation.
