FOI request detail

Accidents on the London Underground

Request ID: FOI-4650-1718
Date published: 26 March 2018

You asked

1. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents on the tube. 2. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents on the tube broken down by station 3. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents of claims for compensation 4. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents of claims for compensation paid out broken down by tube station

We answered

Our Ref:          FOI-4650-1718

Thank you for your request received on 23 February 2018 refining your request for information about accidents on the London Underground.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.

The Tube supports nearly 5 million passenger journeys per day, and up to 1.38bn journeys were made in 2016/17 on the Tube. The safety of our staff and customers is our top priority and the Tube is recognised as one of the safest metros around the world. We are never complacent, however, and continuously strive to reduce injuries.

To minimise slips, trips and falls, we have been trialing and implementing a variety of ways to highlight risks and encourage safe use of escalators. These encourage customers to hold the handrail; walk or stand safely; be aware of the step or landing interface; and, where available, to use lifts when mobility impaired.

Initiatives to minimise slips, trips and falls include blue footprints on the steps, hand prints on the handrails, contrasting colours to highlight the ‘comb’ between the moving steps and the landings, wording on step risers, new electronic displays, under-step lighting, escalator and lift floor signs, projections of staff members giving safety messages near escalators and frequent public address announcements.

Additionally, TfL's safety campaigns, which run throughout the year, use posters in lifts, stations, as well as advertisements on the escalators across the network, to remind our customers of the risks of running on stairs and escalators. We continually monitor the effectiveness of our measures and campaigns in reducing accidents and adjust our approach accordingly.

We offer comprehensive help and support to people involved in, or affected by, a life-changing incident on the TfL network via The Sarah Hope Line.

You asked:

1. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents on the tube.

2. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents on the tube broken down by station

There were 4,368 total passenger injuries reported on London Underground between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. This is equates to 3.22 injuries per million journeys across our network. The attached spreadsheet provides the full list of passenger injuries by station. The stations with the most incidents tend to be the busier stations.

3. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents of claims for compensation

Please find the requested information below:

Compensation Payment Made

Denied Cases

FINANCIAL YEAR

NO

YES

Grand Total

%

2015

385

95

480

80%

2016

429

63

492

87%

2017

271

18

289

94%

Grand Total

1085

176

1261

86%

4. Over the last three years, broken down by financial year can you provide me the total number of accidents of claims for compensation paid out broken down by tube station

We are not obliged to provide you with details of compensation claims broken down by tube station, as this information is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2). In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests. Detailing stations where the most claims have been paid out for incidents could encourage claims and could be used by those who wish to try to make fraudulent claims.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we handle genuine claims fairly outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

[email protected]

 

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