00756253

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/1648-03

http://scholar.google.com...mbro&publication_year=1998

More than 2,000 crashes and 239 fatalities were reported at public passive highway-railroad grade crossings in 1994. Driver error, often due to a breakdown in communication between the traffic control devices and the driver, is commonly cited as a factor in passive grade crossing crashes. The objective of this study was to evaluate an improved method for communicating with drivers in an effort to improve safety at passive grade crossings. Specifically, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a vehicle-activated strobe light and supplemental sign as enhancements to the railroad advance (W10-1) warning sign at a passive highway-railroad grade crossing near Temple, Texas. Three study methods were used to evaluate this enhanced sign system including a before and after speed study, a driver survey, and a driver observation study. The results indicated that average speeds on the approaches to the grade crossing were lower after the installation of the enhanced sign system. Drivers responded favorably to the enhanced sign system, and no adverse driver reactions were observed at the onset of the flashing strobe light. The strobe light was effective in directing drivers' attention to the railroad advance warning and supplemental signs. The enhanced sign system appears to increase driver awareness of the passive grade crossing, cause some drivers to approach the grade crossing with additional caution, and reduce the average speed near the nonrecovery zone on both approaches.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1648, Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Issues.

00765905

English

p. 19-27

1998

Transportation Research Record

0309065208

Figures (6) ; References (8) ; Tables (4)

Average travel speed; Awareness; Before and after studies; Behavior; Data collection; Design; Drivers; Field studies; Light; Measures of effectiveness; Motor vehicles; Railroad grade crossings; Safety; Signs; Speed; Strobes; Surveys; Traffic speed

Effectiveness; Sign design

Temple (Texas)

Temple (Texas)

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

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Nov 19 1998 12:00AM

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