Have a habit of checking your phone or blasting music in your ears while waiting for a train or bus? Then SEPTA has a message for you. More than 500 SEPTA employees appeared at transportation centers across the region to speak on distracted commuting as part of the annual SEPTA Safety Awareness Day.
During this year’s event, SEPTA officials gave out educational materials and answered safety questions at 150 SEPTA rail, trolley and bus stations, loops and transportation centers across the area. They also released three surveillance videos of passengers falling on the subway tracks as examples of what not to do.
“Of course everybody comes on the platform and they want to look and see when the train’s coming,” said Scott Sauer, SEPTA’s director of system. “Well that train’s not getting here any faster by them looking. So we prefer that they stand back behind the yellow line and that’s really the number one way that they can mitigate whether or not they wind up on the track area.”
SEPTA officials reminded passengers to focus on their surroundings, instead of their phones, tablets and other devices, whenever they’re waiting at a bus stop, train station or transportation center.
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"More often we are seeing people who are so 'in tune' with their electronic devices that they have no idea where they are going," said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. "They are stepping out in front of buses and off of platforms into the track area. It's frightening."
Click here for more information on SEPTA safety tips.
