Technologies for Making Railroads Safer

This paper discusses several potential improvements to railroad-highway grade crossings that could reduce violations and increase safety. The first improvement is a system that incorporates advanced laser and audio technologies to mentally create a situation that motorists and pedestrians would be reluctant to violate. This virtual laser barrier system would consist of laser projectors and mirror boxes that would transmit visible light beams, and an audio device that would provide a sound alert if a pedestrian or vehicle goes beyond the warning line and breaks through the light beams. This device would be activated when a train is approaching the crossing and disappear once it has passed. A second proposed system integrates intelligent transportation system technologies to provide train arrival and delay information to drivers in advance of the train. Demonstrations of intelligent grade crossing devices have been conducted in 8 states. Although these technologies offer the promise of safer and more efficient railroad crossings, a joint effort needs to be made between departments of transportation and railroad authorities to assign responsibility and to develop standards, guidelines and testing procedures.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/25073860
• Authors:
  • Zhang, Linna
• Publication Date: 2005-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 56-58
• Serial:
  • World Highways/Routes du Monde
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Route One Publishing Limited
  • ISSN: 0964-4598
  • Serial URL: http://www.worldhighways.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway safety; Intelligent transportation systems; Lasers; Railroad grade crossings; Railroad safety; Traveler information and communication systems; Warning systems
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01013301
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 22 2005 9:26AM