What Are the Safest and the Most Dangerous Forms of Transportation in Chicago?

Transportation safety is an integral part of developing city infrastructure. As the number of people in the city increases, traffic congestion and other factors make traveling more dangerous.

Several forms of transportation commonly used across the city pose varying levels of danger to travelers, and knowing the risks lets you make an informed decision about how you want to get around Chicago.

In this post, the team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers explores the development of transportation safety systems and practices over the years, as well as which transportation methods are most dangerous. Read on to find out how you can choose a method of transportation to make you and your family safer in Chicago.

Evolution of Transportation Safety

Traffic safety has come a long way since the 1970s, thanks to changes in both vehicle designs and organizations like the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Changes to transportation methods significantly decreased the number of car accidents, bus accidents, accidents involving Chicago trains, and other vehicle accidents.

Motor vehicle deaths have dropped by nearly 50% since the 1950s. Another startling revelation shows that, despite the increased risk of working with large commercial vehicles, only about 15% of annual fatalities involved commercial vehicles [1].

This means you are far more likely to be involved in a vehicle crash involving traffic fatalities in your own car.

Current Risks by Mode of Transportation

There has been less than one fatality per five billion miles traveled by buses across the country [2]. Given the limited protection buses provide, these accidents can lead to intense injuries for many people. However, bus accidents are relatively rare compared to other forms of transportation.

The research also shows that CTA trains can be a safe way to travel. Trains are several times more dangerous than buses, but that doesn’t mean they are unsafe. In a billion miles, trains have 55 fatalities compared to the 30 fatalities for buses [2].

On the other hand, cars have a significantly worse safety level. With more than 30,000 fatalities per billion miles, cars are more dangerous. That means if you are choosing a method of transportation based on safety, you should choose buses, trains, then cars in that order.

Fortunately, you can take CTA trains or a CTA bus to most places you need to go in Chicago.

Most Dangerous and Safest Modes of Transportation

The safest way to travel is by bus. Buses have the fewest fatalities per mile traveled, making them a significantly better choice than other transportation methods when considering safety.

Riding a train is also a safe way to travel, although it is more risky than taking the bus. Although there are relatively few serious incidents involving train travel, a crash involving rail lines can seriously injure or kill train passengers.

Regardless of vehicle type, driving is significantly more dangerous than taking public transportation in Chicago or other cities. Considering that, it may be a good idea to consider taking public transit over other vehicles.

Local Transportation Statistics in Illinois and Chicago

94% of transportation-related fatalities occur on highways [3]. The death rate per mile traveled for passengers of car accidents is 50 times higher than buses, 17 times higher than trains, and 1,000 times higher than commercial air travel [4].

70% of Chicago traffic fatalities involved speeding. More than 50% of fatalities in pedestrians are hit by a larger vehicle, such as an SUV or large truck [5].

In 2022, there were 30 people killed in 148 train collisions [6]. By comparison, there were 1,268 fatalities in 1,147 fatal car crashes [7].

The risk of fatality on a Chicago Transit Authority bus is relatively low, considering the high ridership. In 2022, there were 140 million rides on CTA buses [8]. In a published report, five people died, and 1,000 people were injured in CTA bus accidents [9].

Preventative Measures and Safety Tips

When it comes to safety, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to avoid risky situations as much as possible. The majority of accidents happen because of reckless driving. Anything you can do to control your own driving and prevent issues like road rage makes a big difference in the number of fatalities.

It is understandable why you would choose to drive anyway, especially given how easy it is to run errands or get where you need to go. If you do decide to drive, take measures to protect yourself.

Focus on defensive driving and wearing the appropriate riding gear if you are on a motorcycle. Defensive driving can also help if you are in a car. Drivers have the most significant influence over whether they are in a car accident or not.

The Bottom Line

Generally speaking, buses are the safest transportation option in the greater Chicago area, and driving personal vehicles technically puts you at the highest risk. In terms of serious injuries and death, it’s riskier to ride a motorcycle.

However, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of being injured using any form of transportation, including public transportation.

In the event you or a loved one are injured in a bus or car accident, it is possible for you to recover compensation for your injuries or to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible driver. Contact our experienced Chicago car accident lawyers for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling toll-free at (888) 424-5757. We are available 24/7.

Resources: [1] Transportation Safety, [2] Northwestern, [3] Bureau of Transportation Statistics, [4] NSC, [5] City of Chicago, [6] Illinois Railroad Safety Information, [7] Illinois Department of Transportation, [8] Chicago Transit Authority, [9] Chicago Sun Times

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