CONDUCT STUDY WITH THE VIEW TOWARD DEVELOPING ALTERNATE TYPES OF AUTOMATIC CROSSING PROTECTION
TWO PROJECTS ARE REPORTED. THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION HAS COMPLETED AN EXPERIMENT, CONDUCTED AT TWO GRADE CROSSINGS, WITH ROTATING RED LIGHTS THAT WERE SHIELDED FROM RAILROAD TRAFFIC AND OPERATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH WIGWAG SIGNALS. THE COMMISSION CONCLUDED THAT "THE TEST INSTALLATION WAS VERY PROMISING, PARTICULARLY DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS WHEN OBEDIENCE TO THE LIGHTS WAS PRACTICALLY UNANIMOUS BY MOTORISTS." TRAFFIC ENGINEERS WERE IMPRESSED BY THE FACT THAT THE FLASHING ASPECT WAS CONFINED TO A BEAM DIRECTED SOLELY TO THE HIGHWAY APPROACHES TO THE CROSSING, SO THAT CONFUSION WITH EMERGENCY VEHICLES WAS NOT POSSIBLE. A RESEARCH PROJECT AT PURDUE UNIV. IS DEVELOPING PLANS FOR INSTALLATION OF OVERHEAD, CHANGEABLE-MESSAGE, ADVANCE-WARNING SIGNS THAT WOULD INFORM THE MOTORIST OF PROBABLE CONFLICT WITH TRAINS AT AN APPROACHING GRADE CROSSING. MESSAGE EVALUATION AND DRIVER RESPONSE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, AND UP TO FIVE TEST INSTALLATIONS WILL BE MADE AT INDIANA GRADE CROSSINGS IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT.
-
Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 73, BulL 635, PP 196-197
-
Authors:
- Hartsell, C I
- Publication Date: 1971-11
Media Info
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Beacons; Experiments; Flashing beacons; Overhead traffic signs; Railroad grade crossings; Signs; Variable message signs; Warning systems
- Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00226311
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Apr 10 1972 12:00AM