Authors: U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Date of Publication:  April 1981

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Performing Organization:  U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Report No: NTSB-SEE-81-3

Abstract:

The National Transportation Safety Board examined nighttime accidents in which highway vehicles strike trains that block grade crossings.  There is adequate evidence to suggest that this type of accident is strongly influenced by motorist's inability to perceive the presence of trains in crossings because trains lack conspicuity within their environment.  This type of accident results each year in approximately 1,800 collisions with 140 persons killed and 800 injured.  The Safety Board reveiwed pertinent research undertaken by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on a known countermeasure - reflectorization.

The Safety Board issued recommendations to the FRA to develop and issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking within 6 months for the improvement of nighttime train car and locomotive visibility at grade crossings to aid in preventing accidents in which motor vehicles run into the sides of trains at night.  Additionally, the Board recommended that the FRA cooperate with the Federal Highway Administration, the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and the Association of American Railroads to plan and institute a research program on criteria for the use of reflectorization devices and materials.
 

No. of Pages:  46