ACCIDENT CAUSATION ANALYSIS AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS PROTECTED BY GATES

The purpose of this study was to identify probable causes of and factors responsible for accidents occurring at railroad crossings protected by gates. Two important goals of this study were to (a) compare the results obtained for the two types of warning systems activating the gates: fixed distance and constant warning time systems, and (b) test the hypothesis that extended, or widely variable, warning times create a lack of credibility in warning signals. These objectives were achieved by statistically analyzing accident data obtained from the National Rail-Highway Crossing Inventory and the Railroad Accident/Incident Report files for the period 1975 through 1984. An accident classification by circumstance (movement and position of the car in relation to the tracks and the trains) highlighted some causes and factors responsible for the different types of accidents. The classification indicated results and led to the development of a similar interpretation of the accidents for both types of warning systems. Further analysis confirmed and quantified the small impact of environmental factors (bad weather, poor visibility at crossings, etc.). Trends found in relation to warning times tended to indicate that lack of credibility in warning signals was a factor in the accidents.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1114/1114-013.pdf
• Record URL:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings. 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
• Authors:
  • Halkias, John A
  • Blanchard, Laurence
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 123-130
• Monograph Title: Traffic control devices and rail highway grade crossings
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1114
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Crash causes; Distance; Gates; Railroad grade crossings; Statistical analysis; Warning systems; Yellow interval (Traffic signal cycle)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Credibility
• Old TRIS Terms: Constant warning time; Warning time
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00467862
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309044669
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 31 1988 12:00AM