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Won't Personal Security be a serious problem? |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 09 February 2007 |
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Personal security is less of a problem than in conventional mass transit, and even sometimes less than in automobiles, for the following reasons: -
The ride is nonstop, direct to the destination, and alone or with one or two other people of choice. One never rides with strangers. -
Computer simulations have shown that in a well-designed system in the rush period about 50 percent of the passengers will wait less than 30 to 40 seconds and 97 percent less than three minutes. During off-peak periods there is no waiting at all. Thus there is little time for commission of acts of aggression. -
Television monitors and two-way voice-communication systems will be placed in the stations to survey the platform, stairways and vehicles. To insure that the screens will be watched, infrared sensors will be placed in the stations to alert the monitoring personal of activity in each station. -
The station platform is typically no longer than 20 to 40 feet and about 12 feet wide, and is easy to watch—much easier than a large, multi-story parking structure. Care in station design will eliminate areas in which a potential assailant can hide. -
A stop button in the vehicle permits the passenger to order the vehicle to stop at the next station for any reason. -
A voice communications system will be installed in each vehicle to be used to call for help in any emergency.
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