Cost of platform safety doors a small price to pay for peace of mind

Doug Miller has written that platform safety doors are not only pointless, but a 'misuse of funds' ('MTR platform doors would not reduce suicides but drive them elsewhere', February 17). He admits to an inability to grasp how they serve 'justifiable, operational needs' of the MTR and the passengers.

Would his vehement disapproval of these structural safety measures mean he is against similar measures such as a refuge floor in a building in the event of fire, or structures designed to enhance road safety?

A study from the Journal of Safety Research has concluded that 'structural rather than individual-level interventions would be most successful in preventing subway fatalities'. It is noteworthy that almost half of these fatalities are from accidents. Safety doors have been shown to be an effective prevention measure for both suicides and accidents. It is important to emphasise that effective strategies often take a holistic approach, which is the case in suicide prevention where structural and individual-level methods are employed.

This can be likened to fire or road safety, where, for example, refuge floors, extra stairwells, fire alarm systems, seat belts and road signs, as well as public education, all contribute to a safer environment. No one is claiming that platform doors will single-handedly solve the problem of suicides, but there is no doubt that this effective measure needs to be implemented.

When it comes to costs, refuge floors unquestionably are a substantial cost yet they have been a mandatory feature of all new tall buildings in Hong Kong since 1996 and, fortunately, many of them have never had to be used. In Hong Kong, where the MTR sees on average four million passengers per weekday and heavily crowded platforms, safety doors contribute to crowd control and environmental protection through better climate control (at least for full-height doors). They also create a safe environment that certainly gives parents peace of mind, knowing their children will not accidently fall or be pushed onto the track. This also applies for the visually impaired.

In a civil society such as ours, can we truly compare the worth of human life to money? There is no need to recite the studies supporting the case that platform safety doors are a cost-effective safety measure for all stakeholders. What price tag would readers put on their child's safety? For me, their safety and lives are priceless.