National Transportation Safety Board Safety Study: Safety at Passive GradeCrossings. Volume 1: Analysis

摘要

More than 4,000 accidents have occurred at the Nation's active and passive gradecrossings each year from 1991 through 1996. Many of the accidents at active crossings have involved highway vehicle drivers who did not comply with train-activated warning devices installed at the crossing. Drivers at passive crossing are not provided warnings from train-activated devices: consequently, they must rely on a system of grade crossing signs and pavement markings, passive devices, that are designed to warn drivers only of the presence of a crossing. For this study, the Safety Board investigated 60 grade crossing accidents that occurred between December 1995 and August 1996. The Safety Board selected for study accident involving a collision between a train and a highway vehicle occurring at a passive grade crossing, wherein the highway vehicle was sufficiently damaged to require towing. A probable cause was determined for each accident in the study.