[sustran] Terrorism, Transit and Public Safety: Evaluating The Risks

[Todd Alexander Litman]

MEDIA NOTICE
For immediate release: 12 July 2005

New report from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute
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"Terrorism, Transit and Public Safety: Evaluating the Risks" 
(http://www.vtpi.org/transitrisk.pdf).
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This paper evaluates the overall safety of public transit, taking into 
account all risks, including recent terrorist attacks. It indicates that 
transit is an extremely safe mode, with total fatality rates per 
passenger-mile approximately one-tenth that of automobile travel.

It is important for individuals and public officials to avoid overreacting 
to terrorist threats in ways that increase overall danger. Transit 
terrorism would cause more total casualties and harm to society if 
individuals respond to attacks by shifting from public transit to less safe 
modes, or if decision makers respond by reducing support for public transit.




Sincerely,
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
Email: litman at vtpi.org
Website: http://www.vtpi.org