That Emergency Brake in the Train? Don't Use It

The MTA never fails to amaze us. The Post reports that the agency is distributing literature explaining evacuation procedures - and one of the things you shouldn't do is pull the emergency brake. Yeah, the thing in the subway car that's right there for you to see - and pull! The MTA's reason for no emergency brake pulling? "Once the emergency-brake cord is pulled, the brakes have to be reset before the train can move again, which reduces the options for dealing with an emergency." So when are you supposed to pull the emergency brake? We looked at the MTA's website, which says:

Use the emergency brake cord only when the motion of the subway presents an imminent danger to life and limb. Otherwise, do not activate the emergency brake cord, especially in a tunnel. Once the emergency brake cord is pulled, the brakes have to be reset before the train can move again, which reduces the options for dealing with the emergency.

We don't feel like this information is always near the emergency brakes. However, we do know that many people never want the brake pulled, so maybe it all works out.

Photograph from seth holladay on Flickr

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By Jen Chung in News on September 14, 2006 4:20 PM

Comments [rss]

me

pull on my finger

Guy

Sometime last year some moron pulled the emergency brake when the train was halfway out of the station. Noone knew what was going on and then some guy in a black suit and coat walked briskly through the cars while the train was stopped. Everyone in the train thought he was some kind of government official until we realized he was the schmuck that pulled the brake. How do we know? Because he jumped out to the platform from inbetween the cars and retrieved his briefcase that he left on the platform.

When he got back on everyone stared at him like he was satan molesting puppies.

Tomp

I agree that the MTA is about as brainless an organization you'lll find outside of DC, but getting on their case about this is a bit much. It really is a dumb idea to pull the emergency brake, and they're just saying so.

nick

hahah old people...so wacky....sigh...

threetoedsloth

I was on the train once when an old man fell down and was unconscious on the floor. A guy pulled the emergency brake and got seriously yelled at by the conductor.

Joclyn

Kids on the Q/B train pull the brake several times a week, usually right around the Prospect Park station.

honesty

i pulled the emergency brake once when i was a kid. maybe an early teen...er...a teen. it wasn't all that long ago.

Jen

Will no one else admit to being ridiculously tempted to pull the E brake?!

igor

pull this.

thfs

The emergency instructions/system on the subway are terrible. Why isn't there an emergency button that you can push to alert the conductor that doesn't immediately stop the train? If you see something, how are you supposed to say something?

Jason

The New Technology cars (R-142 and up) reportedly automatically disable the emergency brake after the train has travelled a certain number of feet outside of the station, to keep trains from getting trapped in tunnels by pranksters.

Basically, just use it if you see that someone's trapped and being dragged by the train door.

re-re

Yes, but one of the quotes was in small print. Don't count sez Jen.

nick

im liking that jen has taken to commenting now.

hey jen. you quoted the same sentence twice in the story. tighten up your game.

carpeicthus

When you think about it, it's surprising that we don't get cases of some jerk pulling the brake several times a day.

Tick Tock

So we're only supposed to pull the brake if the train is going at warp speed?

Jen

Hooked on phonics? S-O-C-K-S spells SOCKS!

Joe

I was on a train once when an older woman started reaching for the emergency brake when she realized the train was pulling out of her station. Two guys nearly tackled her before she could do so.

Michelle

Jen needs hooked on phonics.

Jen

Well, I know I rather one didn't pull the emergency brake. And if you're pulling one, it better be some damn emergency. But I think it should just be more clear near the emergency brake that it's really not a good idea - perhaps it's too confusing, though.

Ojibot

No doubt. Last week, my train (8:47 AM, Manhattan bount Q train) lurched dangerously to a halt when someone pulled the Emergency Brake. It tossed people all around and was kind of freaky. Then we sat there for a 1/2 an hour while the conductor headed to the back of the train with a flashlight and a tool belt. I guess he was resetting the brake - manually!