Seatbelts in trains; is it a good idea?

Question

in almost every vehicle, there is a seatbelt but why not in trains. why can't they introduce them?

Answer 1

Well, they are not really necessary, but I guess maybe as something to make you feel better they would be OK. I can almost guarantee they would not get much use.

Passenger train derailments are quite rare and if you are in one, I dont know if being strapped in would be a good thing.

You have a LOT more steel wrapped around you than you do in the case of an auto accident.

One of the biggest appeals of train travel is the freedom to be able to move about in relative safety, not being strapped into your own little seat.

You are far far safer in the train then you are in the taxi ride to the train station.

Answer 2

No its a stupid idea

Answer 3

That a ride in a derailed carriage can be a violent experience need not be said, but, in derailments (as opposed to collisions) one is not usually exposed to ultra-high G forces, such as when aircraft meets ground or car meets concrete wall.  All know a train takes more than a little bit to stop.  If the coaches remain up-right then you've had nothing more than an exciting ride

In the case of a violent collision, particularly at any appreciable speed, seat belts will not help you when the coaches start to "telescope" and/or be ripped open like a can of kipper snacks.

Oft asked here is a question regarding seat location for highest degree of protection in the event of an accident.  There is none.  Ya takes your chances like everyone else.  The long and short of it, when it's time to go, you gotta go, and it won't matter where you're seated.

Answer 4

I'm not entirely sure Amtrak would be willing to cover that expense.

Answer 5

No it is not. The expense would be phenomenal.

Answer 6

Well, trains are a lot safer. And I know I would have a fit if there were belts. I like to walk around on trains. And how would they manage that with the sleepers??

Answer 7

A bit difficult as not everyone can sit down on a train. Also when you are only going say a short journey of 10 or so minutes, by the time you get it on its time to undo it, the train is only scheduled to stop at each station for 20 seconds in some areas other busier stations only a minute.  Plus who enforces the idea?

Answer 8

There are very little train accidents and i feel that if you were in a major rail accident then a seatbelt wouldnt really help anyway.

Answer 9

You want more control!  I like being able to get up and walk about on trains.

Answer 10

It is not very good idea.

New York City Subway Cars seat about 40 people per cars. Mostly they carry 8 to 11 cars. It is impossible to replace all seats to equipped with seatbelt.

Answer 11

i think it would be a good idea,but the thing is people probably wouldn't wear them all the time,and most accidents happen so fast with a train that they may not have time to get them on,i think they should also be on school buses also,but then again making people wear them is another story,one thing is for sure though they do save life's,maybe someday a law will pass that any moving vehicle has to have safety belts and it will be a law that if you are a passenger you have to have them on,other wise you could be fined for not wearing them like it is with a car now,i think it would save more life's,we can only hope that this happens,with our law makers doing the way they do its a wonder we have any good laws at all,good luck.

Answer 12

It would just be another waste of taxpayers money and would save so few lives that the money should be spent elsewhere.

Answer 13

Have you ever traveled by train? Passengers get up, walk around, eat in the dining car, enjoy a drink or two in the lounge car, and get a good night's rest in the sleeper car.

They use the toilets, are able to take showers, put on makeup, shave, and change clothes - all while the train is in motion.

Do you propose installing seat belts at every chair in the dining and lounge cars, and on every toilet? Make it illegal for men to stand up to answer nature's call? Special "bed belts" for people to use while sleeping? How about the waiters, porters, bartenders, and conductors, who are on their feet most of the time?

Sorry, it's not going to work.

Answer 14

This is stupid. I know alot of people who would think this is pointless. Other transport there is a more likely chance of crashing and on planes though the chance of crashing is low the chance of turbulance is quite high. However on a train there are hardly any crashes and the train journey is never turbulant. Please oh please dont make a petition for seatbelts on trains :)

Answer 15

No, it's a bad idea.

Trains are the safest form of mechanised land transport. They have vanishingly few accidents compared with roads. To fit setbelts would be a complete waste of money (probably about £300 per seat, you cost that for a 500 seat train).  This is  money that would not be spent on other things that make a train journey more bearable; such as an extra carriage with more seats.

They would probably not be used by most people anyway and would be completely impractical on commuter services and certain overcrowded cross-country trains where people have to stand.

Also, you can guarantee that the late night vandals and other brain-dead idiots would keep damaging them so that a whole train would be put out of action so that they could be replaced.

In the very rare event of a train crash a very few people may be helped if they're wearing a belt but the majority wouldn't.

The biggest contribution to rail passenger safety is the strength of the carriages themselves. When the Virgin train derailed at over 100mph last year and fell down an embankment there was only one fatality. A seat belt wouldn't have saved her but the fact that the train remained intact saved hundreds of others (even if they were a bit bruised).

This is a hard fact that isn't "sensationalist" for the common press to bother to report.