NDLI: Developing Safety Performance Functions for Railway Grade Crossings: A Case Study of Canada

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Heydari, Shahram Fu, Liping
Copyright Year	2015
Abstract	Although accident frequencies at railway grade crossings have shown a decreasing trend over the last two decades (partly due to implemented safety improvements and technological advances), safety at grade crossings is still a major concern since crossing accidents are usually associated with devastating consequences. This paper investigates the effect of various site attributes on railway crossing safety outcomes using recent Canada wide data from a 6-year period (2008–2013). The new data sets allow adjusting previous accident models according to latest circumstances (e.g., vehicles’ improved safety features) affecting safety dynamics at crossings. Employing Bayesian hierarchical models including the non-conventional Poisson-Weibull model, different safety performance functions were separately developed for crossings with the following major warning systems: (1) flashing light and bell (FLB), (2) flashing light, bell, and gate (FLBG), (3) standard reflectorized crossing sign (SRCS), and (4) standard reflectorized crossing sign and stop sign (SRCS & STOP). Among other findings, the results indicated that traffic exposure (product of train and vehicle), number of lanes, whistle prohibition, train speed, and road speed were the most important factors affecting accident frequencies at Canadian railway crossings. It should be also noted that safety performance functions vary, in terms of independent variables and their associated coefficients, between the aforementioned warning devices.
Sponsorship	Rail Transportation Division
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9780791856451
DOI	10.1115/JRC2015-5768
Conference Proceedings	2015 Joint Rail Conference
Language	English
Publisher Date	2015-03-23
Publisher Place	San Jose, California, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Railroads Trains Gates (closures) Roads Dynamics (mechanics) Traffic Safety Flashing Performance Accidents Vehicles
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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