RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING SAFETY EVALUATION

THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED OF A STUDY WHOSE OBJECTIVES ARE TO (1) COMPILE A HISTORY OF AND ANALYZE THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF ACCIDENTS AT TEXAS RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, (2) TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF PROTECTION THAT WOULD PROVIDE ACCEPTABLE EFFICIENCY UNDER THE CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED ON THE VARIOUS CROSSINGS, AND (3) DETERMINE THE OVERALL COST OF PROVIDING EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AT THOSE CROSSINGS NOW FOUND TO BE INEFFECTIVELY PROTECTED. MAJOR FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) THIRTY-FOUR PERCENT (4,500 OF TOTAL 13,500) OF ALL RAIL-HIGHWAY CROSSINGS IN TEXAS HAD TWO OR FEWER TRAIN-PER-DAY CROSSINGS. (2) RATIO OF INJURY TO FATALITY ACCIDENTS AT RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS IS ONLY 3 TO 1 AS COMPARED TO 60 TO 1 FOR ALL HIGHWAY-INVOLVED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS. (3) FLASHING LIGHTS, WIGWAGS, BELLS AND MORE SOPHISTICATED TYPES OF PROTECTION DEVICES ARE PRESENT AT ONLY TWENTY PERCENT OF ALL RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS IN TEXAS. /BPR/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Hpr, 2-8-67- 111, HPR-1(7)
  • Corporate Authors:

    Texas Transportation Institute

    Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
    Arlington, TX  United States  76011

    Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transp

    11th and Brazos Streets
    Austin, TX  United States  78701

    Bureau of Public Roads /US

    400 7th Street, SW
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Richards, H A
    • Bridges, G S
    • Lamkin, J T
  • Publication Date: 1967-9-15

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00219701
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Bureau of Public Roads /US
  • Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Apr 12 1994 12:00AM