Authors: Dr. W. Curtiss Priest, Karl Knoblauch

Date of Publication:  May 1978

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration

Performing Organization:  IOCS, Inc.

Report No:  FRA/OPPD-79-4

Abstract:

This regulatory analysis was prepared using the procedures developed in Railroad Safety Economics: A Guidebook for the Analysis of Regulations (prepared by IOCS, Inc. for the Federal Railroad Administration in February 1978).  It includes an evaluation of the effectiveness of strobe lights, an analysis of the benefits and an estimation of the costs of the proposed regulation, and a measure of the economic impact of the regulation on the railroad industry.

The benefits of strobe lights are measured against the accident information for 1975 and 1976 contained in the Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Accident/Incident database.  A methodology was developed, utilizing fault tree analysis, modeling, and human factors analysis. to postulate the expected value of benefits associated with the use of strobe lights on locomotives.  Fault tree analysis indicated those accidents which would be affected by the presence of strobe lights.  Modeling and human factors analysis were then utilized to develop multipliers which estimated the reduction in the number of accidents for each applicable accident circumstance of the fault tree analysis.
 

No. of Pages:   77