The boss of New York City‘s transit system defended its safety Monday, saying “high-profile incidents” such as a woman being set on fire “have gotten in people’s heads and made the whole system feel unsafe.

Rodriguez said the safest cars are the front, with the conductor, or the middle, where another MTA worker is stationed. But if you get onto a train car and something doesn’t feel right, he said, get off at the next stop — even if that means you have to wait for another train and you’re going to be late.