Level crossings research database

This report was commissioned by the CRC for Rail Innovation to investigate the effectiveness of engineering, enforcement and education approaches to improving safety for motorists and rail users at the road/rail interface. The project reviews the literature into each of these approaches, with particular emphasis on their relevancy to the Australian context. A detailed human factors approach to level crossing safety is paramount in understanding how the capabilities and limitations of motorist performance is relevant to the design, operation and evaluation of level crossings. With motorist error being a major contributory factor in many level crossing collisions, consideration of the human element is essential when aiming to reduce collisions and improve safety on the rail network. The ultimate aim of this detailed approach would be to consider human factors to evaluate and improve current level crossings. More information is needed regarding: 1.The true picture of near-miss occurrences, particularly with heavy vehicles; 2. The extent to which attentional blindness/situational awareness plays in violations at passive crossings; 3. Methods of alerting heavy vehicles to approaching trains, particularly in non-urban areas; 4. The extent to which intentional violations occur at level crossings by heavy vehicles; and 5. The importance of the human element and the capabilities and limitations of different road user groups when driving at different level crossings.

• Record URL:
  http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/98897/20090602-1545/www.railcrc.net.au/publications/downloads/R2100-Level-Crossings-Research-Database.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  CRC for Rail Innovation

  Brisbane, Queensland   
• Authors:
  • Wallace, A
  • McCusker, L
  • Hirsch, L
• Publication Date: 2008-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 74p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Heavy vehicles; Highway safety; Human factors; Literature reviews; Railroad grade crossings
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road safety (engineering and vehicles)
• ATRI Terms: Driver behaviour; Heavy vehicle; Human factors; Level crossing; Literature review; Road safety
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01383890
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Report/Paper Numbers: R2.100
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 4:00PM