Abstract
Recently, the author commented on the paradox in attitudes to safety in private and public transport. He suggested that obvious, cheaply implemented safety improvements to private motoring—the example of banning the use of mobile telephones was under discussion—are often greeted with a chorus of protest that they impinge on the "freedom" of the motorist. In contrast, public transport is expected to spend vast sums of money to improve safety, even if the improvement is likely to be marginal. The author cited the example of the replacement of "slam door" rolling stock on Britain's railways, which casualty records show will have a minimal effect. (Author/publisher)