Risk of Accident Cut by 50 percent in Cities 
with Public Transit Systems
Fatalities per passenger-mile: car 6.53, rail 0.33, bus 0.2 

APTA, American Public Transportation Association
June 30, 2017
http://voicesforpublictransit.org/blog.aspx?id=06-30-2017

Two key facts we should all be considering as we debate how America should allocate its transportation budget:

In 2015 and 2016, America saw the largest increase in traffic fatalities in more than a half-century.
Recent research shows that riding public transportation reduces your risk of being in an accident by more than 90 percent compared to driving a private car.

Investing in improved and expanded public transportation doesn’t just save Americans time and money, it also helps save American lives. Supporting public transportation should be an easy decision for Congress—even those members who represent states and districts that currently don’t have large public transit systems.

Improved Safety for Everyone

What’s critical for Congress — and the American people — to understand is that the safety benefits of public transportation are not limited just to people who ride it.

As the 2016 report “The Hidden Traffic Safety Solution: Public Transportation” shows, public transit riders and non-riders jointly see their crash risk cut by 50 percent when they live in communities with strong public transit systems. In other words, having public transit in your community makes the roads safer for everyone.

A Safer Option for Higher-Risk Drivers

Public transportation is also an important — and sometimes the only — transportation option for people who cannot drive, don’t have access to a car, or are vulnerable drivers. Older Americans justifiably want to remain active, independent, and mobile. Unfortunately, the risk of dying as the result of a car crash increases starting at age 75 and rises significantly after age 80. Our seniors are safer if they can ride public transportation. This option, however, would be reduced for many older Americans if federal funding for public transit is slashed.

Teen drivers have an even higher crash death rate per mile driven than seniors. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 20. Public transit can provide safer mobility for teens — and makes the roads safer for all of us.

Voices for Public Transit has often made the case that it makes economic sense to invest in public transportation. But governing shouldn’t just be about dollars and cents. We also need to remember — and remind Congress — that public transportation saves American lives.

In 2015 and 2016, America saw the largest increase in traffic fatalities in more than a half-century.
Citizens Taking Action
for public transit
Chicago, IL
www.CTAriders.org
Passenger Fatalities per Billion Passenger-Miles
Motorcycle 237.57 
Car or light truck driver or passenger 6.53 
Commuter rail and Amtrak 0.36 
Urban mass transit rail (subway or light rail)1 0.33 
Bus (transit, intercity, school, charter) 0.2 
Commercial aviation 0.02