00467862

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1987/1114/1114-013.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...hard&publication_year=1987

The purpose of this study was to identify probable causes of and factors responsible for accidents occurring at railroad crossings protected by gates. Two important goals of this study were to (a) compare the results obtained for the two types of warning systems activating the gates: fixed distance and constant warning time systems, and (b) test the hypothesis that extended, or widely variable, warning times create a lack of credibility in warning signals. These objectives were achieved by statistically analyzing accident data obtained from the National Rail-Highway Crossing Inventory and the Railroad Accident/Incident Report files for the period 1975 through 1984. An accident classification by circumstance (movement and position of the car in relation to the tracks and the trains) highlighted some causes and factors responsible for the different types of accidents. The classification indicated results and led to the development of a similar interpretation of the accidents for both types of warning systems. Further analysis confirmed and quantified the small impact of environmental factors (bad weather, poor visibility at crossings, etc.). Trends found in relation to warning times tended to indicate that lack of credibility in warning signals was a factor in the accidents.

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

01418073

pp 123-130

1987

Transportation Research Record

0309044669

Print

Figures (4) ; References (10) ; Tables (9)

Alternatives analysis; Crash causes; Distance; Gates; Railroad grade crossings; Statistical analysis; Warning systems; Yellow interval (Traffic signal cycle)

Credibility

Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Mar 31 1988 12:00AM

• A BEHAVIORAL APPROACH TO RISK ESTIMATION OF REAR-END COLLISIONS AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS
• A COMPARISON OF FORMULAE FOR PREDICTING RAIL-HIGHWAY CROSSING HAZARDS (ABRIDGMENT) (DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)
• ANALYSIS OF RAILROAD-HIGHWAY CROSSING ACTIVE ADVANCE WARNING DEVICES
• CONVERSION FROM PERMISSIVE TO EXCLUSIVE/PERMISSIVE LEFT-TURN PHASING: A BEFORE-AND-AFTER EVALUATION (DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)
• EFFECTS OF CHEVRONS, POST-MOUNTED DELINEATORS, AND RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS ON DRIVER BEHAVIOR AT ROADWAY CURVES
• EFFECTS OF REDUCED SPEED LIMITS IN RAPIDLY DEVELOPING URBAN FRINGE AREAS (ABRIDGMENT)
• EVALUATION OF WIDE EDGELINES (DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)
• EVIPAS: A COMPUTER MODEL FOR THE OPTIMAL DESIGN OF A VEHICLE-ACTUATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL
• HOW TO ESTIMATE THE SAFETY OF RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS AND THE SAFETY EFFECTS OF WARNING DEVICES
• IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDED TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE RESEARCH
• OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS OF EXCLUSIVE LEFT-TURN LANES WITH PROTECTED/PERMITTED PHASING (DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)
• REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN PREFERENCES FOR MEDIAN CROSSOVER SIGNING
• THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RAILROAD CONSTANT WARNING TIME SYSTEMS
• TRAFFIC OPERATIONS OF BASIC TRAFFIC-ACTUATED CONTROL SYSTEMS AT DIAMOND INTERCHANGES
• UTILIZATION AND TIMING OF SIGNAL CHANGE INTERVAL
• WEIGHT-SPECIFIC HIGHWAY SIGN EFFECTS ON HEAVY TRUCKS