NEW YORK, NY December 17, 2008 —Dozens of people die in the New York City subway system each year. A new study looks at who these people are, and what led to their deaths.

Between 1990 and 2003, almost 700 people died in the subway system, according to researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

About half were suicides and half were accidents, and a small fraction were homicides, 85 percent of all deaths were men.

Perhaps the main finding of the study for public health is that about half of the people who died accidentally were intoxicated.

The study authors suggest that mass-transit users might have a false sense of security, since they’re not drinking and driving.

They'd like the MTA to add a “Don’t Drink and Ride” public information campaign to its series of posters that urge passengers not to ride between cars or "surf" on top of them.

For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.