9 Out of 10 Bus and Subway Safety Accidents Are Falls... Sharp Increase Among the Elderly

Korea Consumer Agency and Fair Trade Commission Issue Safety Advisory
Check if Vehicle Has Fully Stopped Before Boarding or Alighting
Hold Handrails to Maintain Balance and Other Precautions Urged

As safety accidents occurring on public transportation such as buses and subways continue to rise, there is a particular need for caution regarding falls among the elderly, which have been reported in significant numbers.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency on November 13, a total of 1,034 bus and subway-related safety accidents were reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) from 2022 through July of this year. The number of cases surged from 125 in 2022 to 460 last year.

Local city bus (this photo is unrelated to the article content). Provided by the City Bus Innovation Promotion Team

An analysis of the frequency of bus and subway safety accidents by life stage, from children to the elderly, showed that those aged 65 and over had the highest incidence, with 5.08 cases per 100,000 people. This rate is more than three times higher than that of the next highest group, middle-aged adults, who experienced 1.59 cases per 100,000 people.

Of the 581 safety accidents involving the elderly on buses and subways, the vast majority-531 cases (91.4%)-were due to slips, trips, and falls. This was followed by 22 cases (3.8%) of being caught or trapped, and 15 cases (2.6%) of collisions. The most commonly injured body parts were the head and face, accounting for 233 cases (40.1%), followed by the hips, legs, and feet with 148 cases (25.5%), and the torso with 116 cases (20.0%).

The Korea Consumer Agency and the Fair Trade Commission have urged elderly passengers to prevent safety accidents on buses and subways by: confirming that the vehicle has come to a complete stop before boarding or alighting; always holding onto a handrail after boarding to maintain balance; and checking that the surroundings are safe before getting off.

In addition, to raise safety awareness among the elderly, a promotional video detailing the risks of falls in various situations and prevention measures has been produced and distributed through the Korea Consumer Agency website and online education platforms such as 'Bo-e-da.' Fall prevention videos are also being broadcast on bus interior media to ensure elderly passengers remain especially vigilant.

The Korea Consumer Agency stated, "In the event of a fall, injuries to the head and face can lead to symptoms such as brain damage, which may result in life-threatening consequences. Elderly individuals, whose bones and muscles are weakened, are at greater risk of severe injuries such as fractures even from minor accidents, so extra caution is needed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.