00163049

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...s/trr/1976/611/611-012.pdf

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

Research is reported which analyzed the effect on motorists of improving the warning devices at a rural grade crossing with a high accident rate, by replacing 20.3-cm (8-in) flashers on automatic gates with 30.5-cm (12-in) flashers activated by a Marquardt speed predictor and supplemented by additional strobe lights. The study also evaluated and analyzed suitable parameters, studied before and after conditions and motorists reaction to the system, and evaluated the data collection system itself. Most drivers approached a grade crossing safely. It was found that the Percentage of reduction in speed of the fastest vehicles, along with observation of individual speeding vehicles, provides a better measure of improved effectiveness than do mean speeds and deceleration. Further conclusions are presented regarding: mean entry speeds, vehicle approach speed profiles; deceleration speeds; and the use of deceleration rate as a parameter for determining the effectiveness of new signals.

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

p 68

1976

Transportation Research Record

0309025877

Print

Automatic control; Before and after studies; Crash rates; Deceleration; Drivers; Flashing traffic signals; Gates; Grade crossing protection systems; Motor vehicles; Prevention; Railroad grade crossings; Reaction time; Rural areas; Safety; Speed; Strobes; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Traffic speed; Warning signs; Warning systems

Driver reaction

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies

TRIS, TRB

Oct 13 1977 12:00AM

• COMPARISON OF DRIVER DYNAMICS WITH ACTUAL AND SIMULATED VISUAL DISPLAYS
• 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
• PASSIVE CONTROL AT RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS (ABRIDGEMENT)
• PREDICTING TARGET-DETECTION DISTANCE WITH HEADLIGHTS
• REVIEW OF NEEDS OF USERS OF RIDE QUALITY TECHNOLOGY (ABRIDGEMENT)