00478096

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1988/1160/1160-007.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...gton&publication_year=1988

The findings of a survey conducted in Tennessee to evaluate motorist comprehension of railroad grade crossing traffic control devices and associated traffic regulations are documented. The questionnaire survey was administered to 176 drivers and to 35 city police officers. The survey gathered input on driver recognition and understanding of common grade crossing traffic control devices, including signs, pavement markings, flashing light signals, gates, and train whistles, as well as driver perceptions of train capabilities and operating requirements. The survey results reveal that there are deficiencies in driver comprehension of several of the common crossing traffic control devices. Specifically, many drivers are uncertain or are misinformed about the applications of the crossbuck and advance railroad warning signs and about driver responsibilities at passive crossings and crossings with flashing light signals. Many drivers believe that a train operator can and should assume part of the responsibility for crossing safety by slowing or stopping the train. The survey also revealed that most drivers perceive a need to improve crossing safety. They recommend that gates, flashing lights, or both be installed at more crossings, driver education be increased, and more grade separations be constructed. Police officers, although they performed better than the general driving public on the survey, also demonstrated a lack of comprehension of some grade crossing traffic control devices and safety issues.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1160, Traffic Control Devices 1988. 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

01416411

p. 52-59

1988

Transportation Research Record

030904670x

References (7) ; Tables (8)

Data collection; Drivers; Knowledge; Questionnaires; Railroad grade crossings; Surveys; Traffic control devices; Traffic regulations

Traffic laws

Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 31 1988 12:00AM

• CALSIG: AN INTEGRATION OF METHODOLOGIES FOR THE DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS
• CRITERIA FOR THE DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF TRAFFIC SIGN SYMBOLS
• DELINEATION OF CONCRETE SAFETY SHAPED BARRIERS
• EVALUATION OF WIDE EDGELINES ON TWO-LANE RURAL ROADS (WITH DISCUSSIONS AND CLOSURE)
• FIELD EVALUATION OF TWO-WAY VERSUS FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN CONTROL AT LOW-VOLUME INTERSECTIONS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS
• FIELD STUDIES OF TEMPORARY PAVEMENT MARKINGS AT OVERLAY PROJECT WORK ZONES ON TWO-LANE, TWO-WAY RURAL HIGHWAYS (WITH DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)
• GUIDERAIL DELINEATION
• RELIABILITY AND RISK ASSESSMENT IN THE PREDICTION OF HAZARDS AT RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS
• SIGNAL COMPLAINT AID FOR DISPATCHERS (SCAD): AN EXPERT SYSTEM (ABRIDGMENT)
• SKETCH PLANNING PROCESS FOR URBAN ISOLATED SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS
• TRAFFIC CONTROL AND ACCIDENTS AT RURAL HIGH-SPEED INTERSECTIONS (WITH DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)