Hong Kong MTR Reports 430 Escalator Incidents In Nine Months

Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) reported 430 escalator incidents for the first nine months of 2024, representing a 20% decrease compared to the same period in 2023, Dimsum Daily reports. Incidents primarily stemmed from passengers walking on escalators, carrying large items or being bumped by others. Percentage-wise, 60% of incidents involved passengers failing to hold onto handrails or losing their balance while walking, 19% were related to carrying large items and 10% due to collisions with fellow passengers. The statistics cover only accidents that involved injury. To further reduce the number of escalator incidents, MTR installed cameras at escalator exits so staff can monitor speeds at busy stations and be alerted to obstacles, and introduced obstacle-detection systems at more than 70 stations. Safety ambassadors will be deployed over the next month to educate passengers about the proper use of escalators.