PASSIVE CONTROL AT RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS (ABRIDGEMENT)

This study of designs for passive control established 3 basic objectives. The first phase of this project developed field techniques to measure the effectiveness of passive designs. Four measures were formulated and tested in 3 pilot studies. The studies showed that the standard deviation of the spot speeds on the crossing was high in relation to the variation of spot speeds on approach. Head movements of motorists looking down the tracks were found to be virtually nonexistent. Brake lights were applied on the approach to the rail crossing in only 7.6 percent of the vehicles, even though over 60 percent of the motorists claimed to slow down. Two combinations of experimental advance and cross-bulk signs were developed and evaluated. Before and after studies were compared and an increased motorists awareness was noted at 6 sites. The increases in percentage of motorists observed applying brakes and increases in average spot speed reductions at the track, and the decrease in percentage of motorists responding to the question of slowing down, indicate a more pronounced slowing with experimental signs than with conventional signs.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/611/611-010.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PASSIVE+CONTROL+AT+RAILROAD-HIGHWAY+GRADE+CROSSINGS+(ABRIDGEMENT)&author=I.+Dommasch&author=R.+Hollinger&author=E.+Reilly&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309025877
• 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:
  • Dommasch, I N
  • Hollinger, R L
  • Reilly, E F
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 58-59
• Monograph Title: Railroad-highway crossings, visibility, and human factors
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 611
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Braking; Design; Drag factor (Chemistry); Grade crossing protection systems; Highway safety; Railroad grade crossings; Safety; Spot speed; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Traffic signs; Warning systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Drag factor; Grade crossing accidents; Grade crossing protection; Passive warning systems; Traffic sign design
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163047
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025877
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-021 004
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM