Driver Simulation Study to Evaluate Benefits of IdaShield Signs at Highway-Rail Crossings in Idaho

The IdaShield is a highly reflective sign consisting of a diamond grade reflective Crossbuck and a “shield” of red and white diamond grade reflective strips that is mounted below the Crossbuck on the same post. In the late 1990s, IdaShield signs were installed at 1,341 highway-rail crossings in Idaho to improve crossing visibility and traffic control compliance. The study presented in this paper assessed the effectiveness of IdaShield signs using a simulated driving test environment that exposed participants to various scenarios. The driver simulation measure showed that IdaShield signs changed driver responses at highway-railroad crossings, but only for conditions in which it was paired with a YIELD sign and when a train was approaching. While approaching crossings without an oncoming train, drivers responded to the IdaShield as if it represented a YIELD sign. However, when approaching crossings with an oncoming train, drivers showed greater decreases in speed and increases in transit time for crossings marked by an IdaShield in addition to a YIELD sign. These IdaShield effects on speed and transit time occurred during both daytime and nighttime conditions. A marked decrease was also observed in drivers dangerously crossing ahead of the approaching train at night, which suggests that the IdaShield may be particularly effective in alerting drivers to an approaching train at night. The findings from this research show that the IdaShield does positively impact safety at highway-rail crossings with no apparent negative effects. The signage should continue to be required to increase visibility and safety at highway-rail crossings.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AND40 Visibility. Alternate title: Driver Simulation Study to Evaluate the Benefits of IdaShield Signs at Highway-Rail Crossings in Idaho.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Abdel-Rahim, Ahmed
  • Dyre, Brian
  • Dixon, Michael
  • Meyer, Mark
  • Jennings, Brent
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Daylight; Driving simulators; Highway safety; Night; Railroad grade crossings; Railroad safety; Reflective signs; Traffic signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Diamond grade sheeting
• Geographic Terms: Idaho
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01556961
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-2520
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 14 2015 3:59PM