THE DIAGNOSTIC TEAM APPROACH TO RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING SAFETY EVALUATION
RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING SAFETY HAS RECEIVED INCREASING EMPHASIS SINCE THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OF TRANSPORTATION. AS A PART OF AN ACTION PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE FALL OF 1967, THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS HAS ISSUED AN INSTRUCTIONAL MEMORANDUM SUGGESTING GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GRADE CROSSING SAFETY PROGRAMS WITHIN INDIVIDUAL STATES. INCLUDED AMONG THE GUIDELINES IS A SUGGESTION FOR THE FORMATION OF DIAGNOSTIC TEAMS TO CONDUCT STUDIES AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS FOR INCREASING SAFETY AT RAIL- HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE DIAGNOSTIC STUDY TECHNIQUE AS IT IS APPLIED BY THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND RELATES THE APPLICABILITY OF THIS APPROACH TO RAIL- HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING SAFETY EVALUATION. THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEAM APPROACH, AS A RESEARCH PROCEDURE, IN THE CONDUCT OF A BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS-TEXAS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT COOPERATIVE PROJECT IS REPORTED IN THE PAPER. THE ROLE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEAM IN SAFETY EVALUATION IS DESCRIBED BY DEFINING RESPONSIBILITY IN AREAS SUCH AS (1) ASSIGNMENT OF TEAM MEMBERS, (2) SCHEDULING TEAM ACTIVITIES, (3) PREPARATION OF DIAGNOSTIC STUDY SUPPORT DATA, (4) DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC STUDY PROCEDURES, (5) QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN, AND (6) RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEAM ACTIVITIES. IN GENERAL, THE DIAGNOSTIC TEAM HAS PROVEN TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PROCEDURE IN IDENTIFYING AND ISOLATING FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS OF GRADE CROSSINGS, PREPARING OF PRIORITIES FOR CROSSING PROTECTION, RECOMMENDING IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, DEVELOPING ON-THE-SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, ESTABLISHING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE SOLUTION OF A COMMON PROBLEM, AND ESTABLISHING A LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS./AUTHOR/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Paper sponsored by Committee on Highway Safety and presented at the 48th Annual Meeting. 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
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Authors:
- Richards, Hoy A
- Rowan, Neilon J
- Kanak, Ernest W
- Publication Date: 1969
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 1-13
- Monograph Title: Safety and Accident Research
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Serial:
- Highway Research Record
- Issue Number: 272
- Publisher: Highway Research Board
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: At grade intersections; Diagnosis; Diagnostic tests; Evaluation; Guidelines; Protection; Railroad grade crossings; Safety
- Old TRIS Terms: Safety practices
- Subject Areas: Highways; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00220514
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Sep 22 1994 12:00AM