00163047

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...s/trr/1976/611/611-010.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...illy&publication_year=1976

This study of designs for passive control established 3 basic objectives. The first phase of this project developed field techniques to measure the effectiveness of passive designs. Four measures were formulated and tested in 3 pilot studies. The studies showed that the standard deviation of the spot speeds on the crossing was high in relation to the variation of spot speeds on approach. Head movements of motorists looking down the tracks were found to be virtually nonexistent. Brake lights were applied on the approach to the rail crossing in only 7.6 percent of the vehicles, even though over 60 percent of the motorists claimed to slow down. Two combinations of experimental advance and cross-bulk signs were developed and evaluated. Before and after studies were compared and an increased motorists awareness was noted at 6 sites. The increases in percentage of motorists observed applying brakes and increases in average spot speed reductions at the track, and the decrease in percentage of motorists responding to the question of slowing down, indicate a more pronounced slowing with experimental signs than with conventional signs.

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

01410993

HS-021 004

pp 58-59

1976

Transportation Research Record

0309025877

Print

Braking; Design; Drag factor (Chemistry); Grade crossing protection systems; Highway safety; Railroad grade crossings; Safety; Spot speed; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Traffic signs; Warning systems

Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors

TRIS, TRB

Oct 13 1977 12:00AM

• COMPARISON OF DRIVER DYNAMICS WITH ACTUAL AND SIMULATED VISUAL DISPLAYS
• DRIVER REACTION TO IMPROVED WARNING DEVICES AT A RURAL GRADE CROSSING (ABRIDGEMENT)
• EFFECT OF ILLUMINATION ON RURAL AT-GRADE INTERSECTION ACCIDENTS (ABRIDGMENT)
• EFFECTIVENESS OF AUTOMATIC WARNING DEVICES IN REDUCING ACCIDENTS AT GRADE CROSSINGS
• EVALUATION OF HIGH-INTENSITY SHEETING FOR OVERHEAD HIGHWAY SIGNS
• INDIRECT FACTORS AFFECTING REFLECTIVE SIGNS BRIGHTNESS (ABRIDGEMENT)
• INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENT DATA FOR RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS
• LUMINANCE AND CONTRAST FOR SIGN LEGIBILITY AND COLOR RECOGNITION
• OVERHEAD SIGNS WITHOUT EXTERNAL ILLUMINATION
• PREDICTING TARGET-DETECTION DISTANCE WITH HEADLIGHTS
• REVIEW OF NEEDS OF USERS OF RIDE QUALITY TECHNOLOGY (ABRIDGEMENT)