DRIVER REACTION TO IMPROVED WARNING DEVICES AT A RURAL GRADE CROSSING (ABRIDGEMENT)

Research is reported which analyzed the effect on motorists of improving the warning devices at a rural grade crossing with a high accident rate, by replacing 20.3-cm (8-in) flashers on automatic gates with 30.5-cm (12-in) flashers activated by a Marquardt speed predictor and supplemented by additional strobe lights. The study also evaluated and analyzed suitable parameters, studied before and after conditions and motorists reaction to the system, and evaluated the data collection system itself. Most drivers approached a grade crossing safely. It was found that the Percentage of reduction in speed of the fastest vehicles, along with observation of individual speeding vehicles, provides a better measure of improved effectiveness than do mean speeds and deceleration. Further conclusions are presented regarding: mean entry speeds, vehicle approach speed profiles; deceleration speeds; and the use of deceleration rate as a parameter for determining the effectiveness of new signals.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/611/611-012.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DRIVER+REACTION+TO+IMPROVED+WARNING+DEVICES+AT+A+RURAL+GRADE+CROSSING+(ABRIDGEMENT)&author=E.+Russell&author=H.+Michael&author=T.+Butcher&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
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• 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:
  • Russell, Eugene R
  • Michael, Harold L
  • Butcher, Thomas A
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: p 68
• 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: Automatic control; Before and after studies; Crash rates; Deceleration; Drivers; Flashing traffic signals; Gates; Grade crossing protection systems; Motor vehicles; Prevention; Railroad grade crossings; Reaction time; Rural areas; Safety; Speed; Strobes; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Traffic speed; Warning signs; Warning systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Old TRIS Terms: Grade crossing accidents; Grade crossing protection
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163049
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025877
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-021 004
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM