Abstract
Recommendation 60 of the Ladbroke Grove rail inquiry stated that “comprehensive market research in regard to safety related measures should be carried out in order to take account of the views of informed passengers” (Cullen 2001, p. 235). In response, the Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited (RSSB) commissioned a survey of railway passengers nationwide, to investigate passenger perceptions of risk and safety at stations, on platforms and on trains, and to research passenger preferences for implementing safety interventions. Following qualitative interviews conducted with rail travellers, two separate questionnaires were designed and piloted. Each survey was administered face-to-face at 15 hub railway stations nationwide, according to a quota sample, and respondents were asked to return completed questionnaires by post. The overall response rate was approximately one-third. The results of the safety and risk survey provide a valuable indicator of passenger perceptions of risk, especially when compared to quantitative assessments of actual risk. The findings suggest that the relationship between perceived and actual risk is not particularly strong. The data from the passenger preferences questionnaire were analysed using conjoint techniques, and the results provide information on passenger preferences and priorities for improvement. The results are likely to be of value to the railway industry in allowing passenger preferences to be taken into account when implementing safety interventions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abley J (2000) Stated preference techniques and consumer decision making: new challenges to old assumptions. Cranfield School of Management Working Paper 2/00, Cranfield University, Cranfield
Bray J (2001) Destination passenger: towards a door-to-door railway. Transport 2000 Trust, Platform
Bickley S, Seaton A (2002) Research into escape from railway carriages. Interfleet Technology Report for Railway Safety, London
Cullen, The Rt Hon Lord (2001) The Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry Part I. HSE Books. HMSO, London
de Blaeij AT, van Vuuren DJ (2003) Risk perception of traffic participants. Accid Anal Prev 35:167–175
DETR (1998) Secure stations scheme — guidelines for operators. HMSO, London
Dunbar IH (2002) Train evacuation risk model: stay or go? Risk Solutions Report for Railway Safety
Fennell PJ, Muir HC (1992) Passenger attitudes towards airline safety information and comprehension of safety briefings and cards. CAA Paper 92015, Civil Aviation Authority, London
Gamble W (2002a) Final summary report: research into emergency hammers. Interfleet Technology Report for Railway Safety, London
Gamble W (2002b) Full report: research into emergency door release. Interfleet Technology Report for Railway Safety, London
Guppy A (1984) Perceived and real likelihood of the detection of drinking and driving. PhD thesis, Cranfield Institute of Technology, Cranfield
Hair JE, Anderson RE, Tatham RL, Black WC (1998) Multivariate data analysis, 5th edn. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey
Higgs G (2002) Snapwands: final report. Interfleet Technology Ltd commissioned by Railway Safety, London
Koushki PA, Al-Saleh OI, Al-Lumaia M (2003) On management’s awareness of transit passenger needs. Transport Policy 10:17–26
Nelson A (2002) Annual Safety Performance Report 2001/2. Railway Safety, London
Railway Safety (2001) Profile of safety risk on railtrack controlled infrastructure: risk profile bulletin, issue 2, July 2001. Railway Safety, London
Slovic P (1987) Perception of risk. Science 236(4799):280–285
Thomas LJ (2001) Is it better to be safe and sorry? Hum Factors Aerospace Saf 1(1):99–101
Wilson A, Gutmann J (1998) Public transport: the role of mystery shopping in investment decisions. J Market Res Soc 40(4):285–293
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Rail Safety and Standards Board in conducting this research. The comments provided by two anonymous reviewers are also gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thomas, L.J., Rhind, D.J. & Robinson, K.J. Rail passenger perceptions of risk and safety and priorities for improvement. Cogn Tech Work 8, 67–75 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-005-0021-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-005-0021-9