Authors:  E.H. Farr, J.S. Hitz

Date of Publication:  July 1984

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration, Office of Research, Development, and Technology; Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety

Performing Organization:  USDOT Transportation Systems Center - Cambridge, MA

Report No:  FHWA/RD-83/015

Abstract:

This study has determined the safety effectiveness of various types of motorist warning devices in reducing accidents at rail-highway crossings.  The study was based on analysis of data included in the DOT/AAR Rail-Highway Crossing Inventory and the FRA Railroad Accident/Incident Reporting System for the years 1975 through 1980.  Emphasis was placed on determining the effectiveness of cantilevered flashing lights, mast-mounted flashing lights, stop signs, crossbucks, highway signals, constant warning time devices and crossing illumination; influences of crossing characteristics on warning device effectiveness, and refined effectiveness estimates of flashing lights and gates over those obtained in an earlier DOT study which used data for the years 1975 through 1978.

Standard highway stop signs were found to significantly reduce crossing accidents by an average 35 percent.  Number of trains and tracks are the crossing characteristics which were found to consistently influence warning device effectiveness.  Crossing characteristics found not to influence warning device effectiveness include the following:  crossing surface, maximum timetable train speed, crossing angle, highway paved, highway traffic, and number of highway lanes.  Revised installation and maintenance costs for warning device upgrades (in 1983 dollars) were obtained.
 

No. of Pages:  95