A number of injuries and fatal collisions have occurred at certain highway-rail grade crossings that are located immediately adjacent to highway intersections, driveways or interstate ramps. Some guide signage, pavement markings, and other traffic control devices present near or at the crossings in the past may have confused drivers and caused them to turn onto the railroad tracks, rather than at the nearby intersections, driveways or ramps. This research found the major contributing causes of incorrect turns onto railroad tracks includes (1) confusing signs and pavement markings near highway-rail crossings, (2) darkness and low visibility near or at highway-rail crossings, (3) following turn instructions from a GPS device onto railroad tracks, (4) skewed highway-rail grade crossings, and (5) driver distraction. Based on the findings from intensive literature review, historical crash data analysis, and field observations, a set of practical countermeasures was developed to prevent incorrect turns onto railroad tracks. The major recommended treatments for upstream of a highway-rail grade crossing include advance direction signage and striping. The recommended downstream treatments also consist of guide signs and striping. For the critical zone, treatments such as striping or dynamic envelope pavement markings, pavement gate markings, bollards, and illumination are recommended.
Improved Traffic Control Measures to Prevent Incorrect Turns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
2013
88 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Transportation Safety , Railroad Transportation , Road Transportation , Transportation , Transportation & Traffic Planning , Traffic control devices , Countermeasures , Incorrect turns , Highways , Railroad grade crossings , Accident prevention , Collisions , Fatalities , Injuries , Intersections , Motor vehicle drivers , Pavement markings , Railroad tracks , Traffic safety , Traffic signs
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