Subway surfing — a sibling of train hopping — involves people who ride on the tops of subways for thrills and social media attention.
Sometimes those riders end up in tunnels, according to authorities. There have been 32 incidents in which people required medical attention, including 16 deaths, since 2002, when the New York Police Department started tracking the problem. The police drone program began in 2023. In related news, the city has also debuted a public safety alert tool on a popular app.
In 2023, police started deploying drones, along with field response teams, to subway lines that are especially attractive to those riders, as measured by complaints to 911 and 311.
So far this year, 44 percent of removals have taken place on the 7 train line, which connects Queens and Manhattan. More than half of the rider apprehensions by police took place in Queens.
Police have run more than 340 drone operations to crack down on the stunts since 2023.
The drones have 4K cameras and long-range zoom, and provide real-time data to officers. They can then stop the train at the nearest station and remove riders.
“Drones are saving lives — from our beaches to our subways — and helping keep New York the safest big city in America,” said Mayor Eric Adams in a statement. “This year alone, we’ve already safely rescued subway surfers from trains 52 times before tragedy struck.”
The riders are usually young people, with an average age of 15, according to the city. Police have removed a top-side rider who was 9 years old.
The anti-surfing effort in New York City reflects the increasing use of drones by law enforcement, including as first responders. The city launched a drone-as-first-responder program in 2024, and other departments throughout the country are setting up their own programs, especially as federal regulations and officer training catch up to the explosion of drone technology.
In related public safety technology news from New York City, officials recently announced the launch of a mobile service designed to provide residents with immediate notifications of nearby emergencies.
The city has debuted its “NYC Public Safety” account in Citizen, a free app, which has more than 3 million subscribers in the city, according to a statement.
“A huge part of building a safer city is ensuring New Yorkers have the information they need to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” Adams said in the statement. “Whether it’s a heat emergency, a flood warning, a fire or crime, our new ‘NYC Public Safety’ account on Citizen will keep New Yorkers informed on threats and how their city government is working to keep them safe.”
