Safety and security for seniors and public transport passengers

Summary

Ljubljana is striving to improve safety and security on public transport, especially for senior citizens. The city has been implementing initiatives to improve safety and security of different groups of bus passengers in the past, but the main innovation was their direct involvement through senior's or other organisations within the projects’ activities.

Implementing sustainable mobility

Activities aimed at improving safety & security of different groups of bus users have been undertaken even before CIVITAS-ELAN, but the project offered new approaches, such as direct involvement of bus users in the process of improvement of the public transport services. To increase safety on the bus, the public transport company LPP installed the video surveillance system on 109 buses which serves to discourage offenders of public law and order on buses and to enforce measures against them, if needed.

The main objectives of the measure were to:

• Improve the safety of users of LPP’s transport services with special attention to the senior population;
• Improve the general social dynamic and communication among bus users and drivers and among bus users themselves through specific group-oriented activities
• Reduce vandalism and violence perpetrated in LPP's vehicles to the lowest possible level by introducing new surveillance technologies.
• Surveillance technology has been installed on approximately half of all buses in the fleet of public transport operator LPP. Beside this, public tenders for new busses include also demand, that video surveillance systems are installed already.

Trainings for drivers have been organised to sensitise them to the needs of elderly people, adults with young children and people with disabilities. Additionally, the city has run interactive workshops during which elderly people were invited to help identify measures that will improve their safety and security. Moreover, LPP has continued its BUBONTON awareness raising campaign, which currently consists of a leaflet that presents in an entertaining fashion what one should and should not do when riding the bus. A special thematic brochure “Safe on the bus” has been produced and distributed to improve the passengers’ safety on bus.

Progress

Ljubljana carried out five training workshops for drivers and elderly people each and installed video surveillance systems on 109 buses. The BUSBONTON action will be continued as there is a constant need for awareness rising of all bus users and “Safe on bus” brochure is constantly in distribution. The demand for “default” video surveillance systems in buses will remain in the future public tenders for new buses. Beside these, all the drivers were and will be trained in this perspective on yearly bases.

Outcomes

The measure showed good results, as follows:

Key result 1 – Injuries of PT users

The results show, that the average number of reported injuries increased during the project (in 2009 and 2010), perhaps due to a more open communication with the PT operator, but then in 2011 the number of reported injuries dropped by 18% (target was exceeded).

Key result 2 – Increased perception of security when using PT service

The survey that was conducted by the LPP shows an increase by 12%. Also 86% of the respondents were aware of the surveillance system. The target of 10% was exceeded, but the number of respondents is too low to draw statistically significant conclusions.

Key result 3 – Complaints of PT users

All complaints and praises from different sources are at the end summarised. The results show, that the complaints of PT users – complaints increased by almost 50%, but on the other hand also praises increased by 70%. The target was not achieved, but this can indicate a higher level of awareness regarding the security and safety issues on PT buses

Key result 4 – Significant increase in assistance from drivers

Drivers who attended the trainings were asked if the training helped them to change their attitude. The willingness to assist impaired people increased from 50% to 95% (target of 15% was exceeded).

Key result 5 – Reduction in vandalism costs

Results show, that costs of vandalism on buses were reduced by 11% (the target of 15% reduction was almost achieved). Presence of video cameras on buses evidently reduces vandalism costs and acts of violence, which justifies the investment costs, so CBA results were positive.