This report describes findings from a study aimed at assessing the safety impact of IdaShield signs installed at 1,341 highway railroad crossings in Idaho. Specifically, our research assessed the markers effectiveness using three measures: Before-and-after analysis of historical crash data preceding and following installation of the IdaShield marker. User assessment survey measuring user understanding of the IdaShield and changes in user response due to the IdaShield. Simulated driving test environment that exposed participants to various controlled circumstances related to highway railroad crossings. The before-and-after analysis of test data showed crashes were significantly decreased by 38.6 percent after the IdaShield installation and these effects were largely attributed to the IdaShield. The user assessment survey found users understood the purpose of the IdaShield, believed it enhanced intersection visibility, and would improve safety. Finally, the driver simulation showed how the IdaShield changed driver responses at highway railroad crossings, but only for conditions in which it was paired with a YIELD sign and a train was approaching. No significant safety benefit was noted when the IdaShield sign was paired with a STOP sign. Because the IdaShield produces positive overall outcomes on driver safety and does not have any apparent negative effects, we recommend the signage should continue to be required to increase visibility and safety at passive at-grade railway crossings in Idaho where a STOP sign is not present.
Evaluation of IdaShield Sign Safety Benefits at Highway-Rail Crossing in Idaho
2014
135 pages
Report
No indication
English
Transportation Safety , Road Transportation , Railroad Transportation , Transportation , Transportation & Traffic Planning , Railroad grade crossing accidents , Countermeasures , Railroad safety , Highway safety , Idaho , Accident location , Accident statistics , Fatality rates , Accident causes , Data analysis , Vehicle train collisions , Vehicle railroad interface , IdaShield
Benefits of IdaShield Signs at Highway–Rail Crossings in Idaho
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