The Use of Illumination of Railroad Grade Crossings to Reduce Collision Risks

An assessment of the requirements for illumination at a railroad grade crossing reveals two principal needs: the need to illuminate the sides of railroad cars by in-place lighting at the crossing so that they can be recognized by a motorist at a stoppable distance, and the need to provide characteristic lighting of the horizontal crossing area for the purpose of forewarning the motorist of the approach to a crossing. This paper examines the problem of determining the illumination required for recognizing railroad cars, and presents recommendations for illumination standards and compliance verification. It includes some designs, using available equipment, which can provide the necessary illumination. It also estimates the cost of lighting installations where electrical power is available and makes some observations on the utility of using stored energy packages where electric power is not available.

• Record URL:
  https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L18143#p1_z5_gD_lRT_y1995
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Knable, Norman
• Publication Date: 1995-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Draft Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; Glossary; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 65p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compliance; Costs; Guidelines; Lighting; Lighting equipment; Railroad grade crossings
• Subject Areas: Highways; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01677658
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-VNTSC-FRA-95
• Contract Numbers: RR697/R6026
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 13 2018 10:28PM