Mapping the City's Stray Voltage

These maps are sort of terrifying, no? The Jodie S. Lane Public Safety Foundation, named for the woman who was electrocuted to death in the East Village five years ago, has created a website that tracks and logs all incidents of stray voltage found by Con ED since January 2004. CityRoom reports that "It maps the location of more than 31,900 objects, like fences, manholes and sidewalks, that have been electrified by stray voltage and 930 shocks of people or pets that have been recorded during that period."

Lane's father created the map, who said, “The only way for me to stay sane has been to focus on doing something good for the people of the city and state of New York." Con Ed says that incidents are on the decline, but "the number of stray voltage conditions detected each year rose with the development of new technology and an increased number of systemwide scans."

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By Jen Carlson in News on November 5, 2009 5:52 PM

Comments [rss]

glob

Most of these are 1-2 volts (the same as a AA battery) which you wouldn't even know if you were touching it. It also maps every point found over the last five years which makes it seem way worse than it is.

lisa

Alot the ones by my house are over 50 volts!

This is really scary. The website says there have been almost 1000 shocks too!

Dan

Voltage isn't what kills. It is the amperage that causes someone's heart to stop.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/electrical_incidents/eleccurrent.html

silver

Yep. Put 2 metal rods into the dirt, you'll get voltage between them, but not enough amps to light a flashlight, or you up.

Nyctini11

That lloks like the same map at the bedbug registry, hmmmm EXCEPT for nannystate(sorry but i don't think the map includes "in your pants" BUT if i find one, i'll let you know, you're too witty, i feel like i owe you for all your enjoyably humorous satire.