Effectiveness of Motorist Warning Devices at Rail-Highway Crossings

摘要

The study has determined the safety effectiveness of various types of motorist warning devices in reducing accidents at rail-highway crossings. The study was based on analysis of data included in the DOT-AAR Rail-Highway Crossing Inventory and the FRA Railroad Accident/Incident Reporting System for the years 1975 through 1980. Emphasis was placed on determining the effectiveness of cantilevered flashing lights, mast-mounted flashing lights, stop signs, crossbucks, highway signals, constant warning time devices and crossing illumination; influences of crossing characteristics on warning device effectiveness; and refined effectiveness estimates of flashing lights and gates over those obtained in an earlier DOT study which used data for the years 1975 through 1978. Standard highway stop signs were found to significantly reduce crossing accidents by an average of 35 percent.