CNN reports a New York jury awarded $2.33 million to a man who lost his leg after drunkenly falling into the path of an oncoming subway train in Manhattan.

Seems to me a little railing would go a long way here. With the entrances through the barrier synced with the actual doors on the train?

Search: gates or rails at subway stations? 

“Rails at subway stations” was a miss, but I struck gold with “gates on subway platforms.”

So I’m not the first person to think of this. In fact the barriers I am imagining are called either “platform screen doors” or “platform edge doors” depending on whether or not they extend all the way to the ceiling. There are some nice pics at the above link, and especially here (mouse over these pics to expand). Doubtless these things save numerous lives.

There has been one death attributed to safety doors. But that was in Asia where subway culture resembles a contact sport (click for must-see video).

If you find yourself mourning the absence of handy platform screen doors at your local tube stop, here is a nifty subway station survival guide.

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