Escalators have become a common sight in malls, metro stations, airports and malls, making it easier for people to move between floors. But have you ever wondered why there are black, brush-like strips attached to the sides of the elevator? While many people mistakenly use them to clean their shoes, that is not what they are designed for.
The side brushes are actually an important safety feature. They help reduce the risk of clothing, shoelaces, bags or other loose items getting caught between the moving steps and side panels of the escalator.
If items like a dupatta, dupatta, sari pallu, backpack strap or untied shoelaces drift too close to the edge, the flexible brushes gently push them away, helping to prevent dangerous tangling.
Modern escalators are equipped with many additional safety features, including emergency stop buttons, speed monitoring sensors, yellow boundary lines that indicate where passengers should stand, and regular maintenance checks to ensure safe operation.
Every year, hundreds of escalator-related accidents are reported worldwide, many of which are caused by loose clothing, trapped objects, falls, or lack of supervision. While side mats can’t prevent every accident, they do play an important role in improving overall occupant safety.
When using the escalator, always face forward, hold children’s hands, secure scarves and loose clothing, avoid placing bags near the edges, and make sure shoelaces are properly tied before ascending.
