The principal finding of this report by the U.S. Department of Transportation Grade Crossing Safety Task Force (Action Plan) (Task Force) is consistent with, and fully supports, that of the Rail-Highway Crossing Safety Action Plan announced by Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena in 1994-that is, improved highway-rail grade crossing safety depends upon better cooperation, communication, and education among responsible parties if accidents and fatalities are to be reduced significantly. This report explains how a lack of information and/or guidelines in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and inspection of grade crossings led the Task Force to identify five safety problem areas for detailed examination-interconnected Signals; Vehicle Storage Space; High-Profile Crossings; Light Rail Transit Crossings; and Special Vehicle Operations. The five problem areas are described in the context of current practices using information drawn from technical studies, public outreach, and professional sources. As in the Action Plan, the crosscutting issues of funding, enforcement, coordination, information, standards, and education permeate the discussion. The report recommends 24 specific follow-on actions to address both physical and procedural deficiencies. In practice, the responsibility for public grade crossings resides with State and local governments, railroads, and transit agencies. Recognizing the constrained budgets that are available to the private sector and State and local authorities, the report emphasizes rethinking existing practices-not requiring new ones from a regulatory approach. This reliance on existing opportunities is emphasized by recommendations that encourage grade crossing safety through coordinated inspections, law enforcement, and driver education.
Accidents That Shouldn't Happen. A Report to the Grade Crossing Safety Task Force to Secretary Federico Pena
1996
34 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Transportation Safety , Road Transportation , Railroad Transportation , Railroad grade crossing accidents , Accident prevention , Transportation safetey , Interconnected signals , Recommendations , Vehicle storage space , High-profile crossings , Light rail transit crossings , Special vehicle operations
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