A man is “dead” on the Tenerife tram. Well, in all trams actually. But no, it’s not a macabre event but quite the opposite: it is a safety device present in all vehicles of this type that prevents serious accidents.
This system, also used in transport in Tenerife, is a safety alert that informs control that the vehicle’s driver is in perfect condition.
According to the company Metropolitano, as explained in a recently posted video on their TikTok channel, it ensures that the driver is conscious and alert.
Thus, the driver must periodically press this system, often a button or pedal, to keep it active. If this device goes a certain amount of time without being activated, the vehicle triggers a response to prevent an accident.
Braking
“If the system is not interacted with in a set time, the tram issues a warning and then brakes automatically,” states the company managing the tram service on the Island.
Therefore, as is the case with other similar vehicles and even trains, if the device is not activated, several audible and visual warnings are triggered, increasing in intensity, in anticipation of the driver’s reaction. If this does not happen, the braking system is automatically activated.
The maximum times for pressing and releasing the pedal or button cycles vary depending on the vehicle. Normally, the times are reduced with higher speeds. A common sequence in systems with a pedal is that if it is not pressed, there are five seconds before the beep sounds for it to be pressed or pressed again, and if it remains pressed, 30 seconds pass before the beep to release it; if the pedal is not released before, the emergency brakes may also be applied.
It should be noted that in these types of vehicles, unlike buses, drivers are usually isolated from passengers, especially when it comes to long-distance trains and railways. In the case of trams, like in Tenerife, they have their own cabin but no contact with passengers, so if something happens, it is difficult for passengers to notice and intervene.
The curious thing about this name, which is common in all Spanish-speaking countries, is that it does not indicate that the driver is deceased but quite the opposite: activating it serves to indicate they are very much alive.
This is a device of vital importance considering that in the case of the Tenerife tram, both lines run for most of their route through heavily trafficked areas, both by vehicles and pedestrians, especially in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Adding to this, efforts are made to ensure the safety of passengers, who are increasing in number. In fact, according to the latest data, Tenerife’s trams have been breaking records for journeys, especially following the public transport becoming free.
Specifically, Metrotenerife transported 2,067,370 passengers in September of last year, adding to the total annual figure to reach 16,073,727 in the first nine months of the year. The data calculated from a year ago shows that between September 2022 and the same month in 2023, 20,726,176 users were registered.
