Human error to blame for red light violations on DC Metro

Screams from nearby track workers on Washington’s Metrorail system finally caught the attention of a train operator who ran a red light signal and nearly hit an oncoming passenger train earlier this month, according to safety officials.

{mosads}During a Board of Directors Safety Committee meeting on Thursday, Metro officials briefed members on steps the agency is taking to deter such signal violations while also emphasizing the need for automated technology to help cut down on human error.

“Human error is a contributing factor in the majority, if not all” red signal violations on the subway system, said Patrick Lavin, Metro’s new chief safety officer.

In a July 5 incident, a train operator did not stop for a red signal on the Red Line near the Glenmont stop, nearly hitting an oncoming passenger train and two inspectors who were working on the tracks.

Lavin said the train operator’s radio was turned off, so he didn’t receive a signal to shut the train doors or verify it was OK to pull out of the station and then ran a red signal. The train finally stopped 2,000 feet from an oncoming train, but only after two track inspectors yelled for the operator’s attention.

The train operator was fired. Five more employees were disciplined after it was discovered passengers were evacuated from the disabled train while power to the third rail was still on.

There have been 66 red signal violations on Metro since 2012, with 10 occurring so far this year. A study was commissioned last year to come up with recommendations for how to prevent them.

Safety officials said human error is the primary cause of violations, calling for technological solutions such as automatic train operation (ATO) or LED signals that flash and strobe to catch the driver’s attention.

“ATO would have prevented the July 5th incident, but not all signal overruns,” Lavin said.

In the meantime, Metro is working to prevent violations by retraining employees, taking disciplinary action, improving physical signage, conducting compliance testing and adjusting schedules.