When does a crowd become dangerous?

[Martin Cassini]

The following, from a piece about crowd behaviour (Guardian Weekend, 27.6.09), is relevant to our debate about solutions being within us rather than in formal traffic control. Paul Wertheimer, of Crowd Management Strategies, investigated the crowd "stampede" (10 dead) at The Who concert in Cincinnati in 1979, and is the expert witness for the family of the man who was crushed to death in Walmart last year. He bases his theories on first-hand experience. "I spent 15 years in crowds," he says. "I’m not a scientist, I don’t see people as pinballs on a computer. Sometimes the scientists leave out the human factor, because they’re afraid of human behaviour. Afraid of it because they can’t quantify it, can’t control it, can’t turn it into a pinball on a computer. There is a need for [scientists like] Keith Still [of Crowd Dynamics], but not at the expense of human behaviour." A key to surviving in a bad crowd situation, he says, is to make human contact with those around you. Contrary to received wisdom, people don’t automatically become selfish when under pressure. "You can’t talk because of all the noise – you rely on eye contact, facial gesture, hand movement. You always want to make contact with somebody around you. People will help you if they can. Extend your hand. I call it the Grip of Life. It’s that human connection of hope and support and encouragement." – Oh you traffic engineers and councillors, there is more potential in human nature than is dreamt of in your philosophy. Get a Grip. Let people step off the cliff of your fear, and watch them fly. You might not be able to control or quantify it, but you can admire it.