Safety and security FAQ
What steps has Metro taken to maintain customer
safety?
What can I do now to better prepare for an emergency?
How can I obtain help in an emergency?
What should I do in an emergency?
What should I do if I see a suspicious package?
What should I do if I see an unknown substance?
How can I protect myself from pickpockets?
Is it against the law to litter in a Metro station?
What type of crime occurs most often at Metro?
Below are some frequently asked questions about safety and security on Metro. If you have additional questions about WMATA safety or security, please send us an email at csvc@wmata.com. A transit police officer or safety manager will respond to you as quickly as possible.
What steps has Metro taken to maintain customer
safety?
Recently, we have increased the presence of transit police officers
and K-9 units throughout the system; we have relocated all newspaper
vending machines, trash receptacles, and recycling bins to station
entrances/exits; we have moved bicycle lockers away from station
underpasses; and we have formalized our procedures for handling
hazardous materials. We have also requested $190 million in funding
from the federal government for a variety of security improvements
and programs. These steps complement the many safety and security
practices that we have followed for years. Examples of such practices
include: conducting daily inspections of our equipment and facilities,
ensuring that our employees are knowledgeable about safety procedures,
and testing and acquiring the latest safety technology. These efforts
have established WMATA as a national leader in transit system safety.
What can I do now to better prepare for an emergency?
Learning alternate ways of getting where you need to go is an important part of emergency preparedness. There are often multiple ways to reach a destination via Metro. Use the Trip Planner and Metrorail/Metrobus timetables and system maps that are available on this Web site to help you plan your alternate routes. Should an emergency occur that impacts Metro service, information about schedule changes and detours will be available on the hompage of this Web site as well as by calling 202-637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780). More tips are available in the emergency preparedness brochure.
Metro's Web site also now includes a new emergency preparedness page linking to our own safety and security brochures and press releases and to external sites including the Office of Personnel Management's Emergency Guidance, American Red Cross Community Disaster Education materials, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and emergency preparedness sites for Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
How can I obtain help in an emergency?
On a Metrobus, contact the operator.
On a Metrorail train, use the emergency intercom at either end of the car to contact the train operator. Push and hold the red button to speak to the operator. Release the red button to hear responses from the train operator. If a disturbance occurs on the car in which you are riding, go to another car to report it.
On a station platform, use the emergency intercoms on the designated pylons to contact the station manager or dial 911 on the pay phones for emergency assistance.
What should I do in an emergency?
In an emergency, it's always important to listen to and calmly follow the instructions provided
by WMATA employees. However, the information below is also useful when dealing with an
emergency situation:
On a Metrobus, emergency exit procedures are listed on windows, ceiling escape hatches, and doors. Fire extinguishers are located inside the front door under the passenger side seat or beneath/behind the driver's seat.
On a Metrorail train, use the emergency intercom at either end of the car to contact the train operator. Emergency instructions are posted inside each rail car next to the center doors. Fire extinguishers are located in the operator's cab, and they are also often available under the last row of seats at the end of the car.
In a Metro station, use the emergency intercoms to contact Metro personnel or call 911 on any pay phone. Familiarize yourself with all of the exits at the stations that you frequently use in case you ever have to take a different exit.
What should I do if I see a suspicious package?
The majority of unattended packages are harmless; however, if you find
a suspicious package, please contact Metro transit police immediately
at 202-962-2121. Characteristics of suspicious packages may include: unusual
batteries or wires; tanks, bottles, or bags indicating the presence of
a chemical; a message attached to the article; suspicious clouds, mists,
gases, vapors, or odors; the appearance of something seeping from the
article; the observation of someone abandoning the article and quickly
leaving; or finding the article in an out of the way place.
Please also report any suspicious activity to Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121. To enable us to respond quickly, be prepared to provide detailed information about what activity is taking place, where it is taking place, and the individuals who are involved.
What should I do if I see an unknown substance?
Occasionally, substances that are not easily recognizable are observed in Metrobuses, Metrorail trains, and Metro stations (ex. cleaning solutions, crushed food, road salt, etc.). Again, most substances
that may seem suspicious at first glance are actually harmless. If you
are concerned about the presence of a substance on a Metrobus, Metrorail
train, or in a Metro station, please contact the nearest Metro employee
and provide him/her with as much information as possible (appearance of
substance, location of substance, etc.) so that we can thoroughly investigate
your report. Please be advised that anyone caught in the act of perpetrating
a hoax, or found to have committed a hoax, will be prosecuted to the fullest
extent of the law.
How can I protect myself from pickpockets?
Pickpockets love crowds, so take the following precautions to protect your valuables:
- Use a purse with a secure clasp. Keep the purse close to your body and keep your hand on the clasp.
- Carry your wallet inside your coat or side trouser pocket-never in your rear trouser pocket. You can also place a rubberband around your wallet to feel resistance if it is removed from your pocket.
- Beware of loud arguments or commotions that may be staged to distract you.
- If your pocket is picked, yell out immediately to warn others. Don't be afraid to shout. Tell the train or bus operator or the station manager, and request the transit police.
- Avoid standing near train car doors to lessen your chance of being crowded or bumped by others.
Is it against the law to litter in a Metro station?
Yes, as well as on Metrobuses and Metrorail trains. Please use the trash
receptacles and recycling bins located near the station exit/entrances
to discard your trash. It is also against the law to smoke, eat, drink,
transport dangerous/flammable materials, spit, use audio/video devices without
earphones, or transport animals with
the exception of service animals and animals transported in a box or basket so as not to endanger or offend other passengers.
What type of crime occurs most often at Metro?
The majority of Metro-related crime does not occur on trains, in stations, or on buses; rather, it happens in our parking lots. We park, on average, about 50,000 cars each day for long periods of time which make an attractive target for thieves to either try to steal vehicles or valuable property that they can observe through the windows. To help prevent the theft of your vehicle or personal property, remember these tips: lock your car and take the key; USE AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE (ex. steering wheel locking bar), and keep items out of sight by placing them in the trunk. (Metro crime statistics)
