Raising safety awareness

Commuters must enhance their safety awareness as subway usage increases, transport and security analysts said.

Emergencies such as fires and natural disasters cannot be entirely avoided so it is important to ensure that every passenger avoids taking dangerous or hazardous items on trains and knows the location of exits, said Pei Yan, an associate professor specializing in subway security at People's Public Security University of China. Some subway passengers carry knives, which are not banned under Chinese law, but these items can be potential safety risks on public transport, Pei said.

"Some people also take pets, including frogs and snakes, or goods with pungent smells, on subways. It's irresponsible because these things may arouse panic and result in disorder underground," she said.