A recent study by the U.S. Department of Transportation
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Volpe Center offers valuable insightsinto customer assault trends and mitigation strategies based on interviews with nine large transit agencies. The agencies reported a range of assault types occurring across their systems, with non-severe assaults like pushing and shoving being most common
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Study by USDOT's Volpe Center: A recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Volpe Center sheds light on customer assault trends and effective mitigation strategies.
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Interviews with Large Transit Agencies: The study involved interviews with nine large transit agencies, each of which reported various types of assaults occurring within their systems.
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Common Assault Types: The most common assault types reported were non-severe incidents such as pushing and shoving.
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Comprehensive Data Collection: These agencies went beyond the National Transit Database (NTD) requirements by collecting robust data on assaults, often in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
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Contributing Factors: Factors believed to contribute to these assaults include societal issues like homelessness and substance misuse, fare evasion, escalating conflicts, and local laws and policies.
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Promising Mitigations: Mitigation strategies discussed in the study included partnerships with social services for outreach to individuals in crisis, increased policing and security presence, surveillance cameras, and environmental design measures like access control and improved lighting.
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Key Takeaways for Transit Leaders:
- Cross-Sector Collaboration: Transit leaders should prioritize cross-sector collaboration with social services to address the root causes of assaults.
- Further Research: There is a need for further research into the contributing factors of customer assaults.
- Evaluation of Mitigations: Guidance is required for evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
- Context Matters: The study emphasizes the importance of considering the design and context of mitigations.
- Knowledge Sharing: Transit agencies should actively share information on effective practices to improve safety.
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Ensuring Rider and Community Safety: Addressing customer assaults through evidence-based strategies tailored to each transit system is crucial for ensuring the safety of both riders and the broader community.
References:
- U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
- National Transit Institute (NTI)
- National Center for Mobility Management
- National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP)
This information is essential for public transportation agencies and organizations to address customer assault issues effectively.
#TransitSafety #CustomerAssaults #MitigationStrategies #PublicTransportation #USDOTStudy #SafetyPartnerships #SecurityPresence #Surveillance #EnvironmentalDesign #RiderSafety