Louder horns ordered for trams after fatal collision
● Pedestrian ‘did not respond to audible warnings’
Edinburgh Trams have been advised to make their warning horns louder following a pedestrian being killed after failing to respond to a tram’s warning bell.
An official investigation into the incident last September revealed the horn is quieter than the bell, which is routinely used first for warnings.
The UK Department for Transport’srailaccidentinvestigation branch (RAIB) found the trams’ horn “does not provide a sound pressure level in line with current industry guidance” and “does not generate a greater sound pressure level than the tram bell”.
In “urgent safety advice”, the RAIB said Edinburgh Trams should “increase the sound pressure level of the warning horn fitted to its trams”.
The RAIB said it should also “consider measures to mitigate risks at locations where audible warnings may be required.
“In particular, consideration should be given to the appropriateness of the current warning horn or bell as a method of warning to pedestrians using footpath crossings over off-street track sec- tions with high line speeds.” The advice follows the death of Carlos Palacio, 53, who was hit by a tram around 12:10pm on 11 September while crossing the tracks on a crossing between Balgreen and Saughton tram stops.
Edinburgh Trams said both the bell and horn were used when necessary. It said the bell was used first, but if it did not produce the desired result, the driver could then use the horn.
The horn also comes on automatically if the emergency brake is applied.
The RAIB stated: “The tram driver had observed the pedestrian approaching the crossing and, in response, applied the service brake to reduce the tram’s speed, as well as sound- ing repeated warnings using the tram’s bell. The pedestrian did not respond to these audible warnings and continued on to the crossing.
“Although the driver then operated the emergency brake [which automatically activated the warning horn] before arriving at the crossing, the tram was too close to be able to stop before reaching it.”
A spokeswoman for Edinburgh Trams said: “When trams commenced passenger service in 2014, we were satisfied that suitable and sufficient testing of the audible warning horn had been undertaken.
“Further testing is already underway with modifications to the warning horn being implemented across the fleet.”