Highway-railroad grade crossings (HRGCs) are intersections where transportation modes like trains, vehicles, and pedestrians converge. The US records over 2,000 crashes and 200 fatalities annually at HRGCs, with Kentucky showing an upward trend in severe crashes from 2021 to 2023. Considering the aforementioned statistics, this study evaluates crash contributory factors at Kentucky’s public HRGCs and recommends targeted safety improvements. This study analyzed 1,117 crashes at public HRGCs in Kentucky from 2014 to 2023 using data from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). The contributing factors examined included crash-related factors (e.g., collision type and at-fault vehicle type), driver behaviors (e.g., aggressive driving), geometric features (e.g., presence of curves, grades, channelization, and track signalization), and environmental conditions (e.g., weather and crash timing). Statistical methods, including Chi-square test and odds ratio (OR), were applied. Additionally, police crash narratives were manually investigated in detail to identify the potential causes of HRGC-related crashes. The Chi-square test of independence showed that the manner of collision, at-fault vehicle type, speeding, presence of channelization nearby HRGCs, number of lanes, and time of crash significantly impacted the severity of crashes at HRGCs. Furthermore, the OR results indicated that the odds of severe crashes at HRGCs involving head-on collisions, motorcycles, higher speed limits (≥45 mph), presence of channelization, bi-directional traffic movement, more number of traffic lanes, and off-peak night/dawn were 10.37, 15.03, 2.355, 0.52, 2.6, 2.54, and 2.25, respectively. Additionally, the in-depth investigation of HRGC crash narratives indicated that driver behavior (lane changing and making left turns) significantly contributed to HRGC crashes. The study suggested installing channelizing islands, reflective road markings, and chevron signs with retroreflective strips before sharp horizontal curves leading to HRGCs to help reduce severe HRGC-related crashes.


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    Titel :

    Investigating Crash Contributing Factors at Public Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings in Kentucky


    Beteiligte:
    Banerjee, Arunabha (Autor:in) / Justice, Dylan (Autor:in) / Noronha, Alrose (Autor:in) / Cissell, Trenten (Autor:in) / Southard, Luke (Autor:in) / Crump, Shamar (Autor:in) / Khan, Tathagatha (Autor:in) / Raoniar, Rahul (Autor:in) / Haleem, Kirolos (Autor:in)

    Kongress:

    International Conference on Transportation and Development 2025 ; 2025 ; Glendale, Arizona



    Erscheinungsdatum :

    05.06.2025




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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