scholarly journals A Comprehensive Assessment of the Existing Accident and Hazard Prediction Models for the Highway-Rail Grade Crossings in the State of Florida

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junayed Pasha ◽  
Maxim A. Dulebenets ◽  
Olumide F. Abioye ◽  
Masoud Kavoosi ◽  
Ren Moses ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
The State ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Index Formula ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Priority Index ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Grade Crossings

Accidents at highway-rail grade crossings can cause fatalities and injuries, as well as significant property damages. In order to prevent accidents, certain upgrades need to be made at highway-rail grade crossings. However, due to limited monetary resources, only the most hazardous highway-rail grade crossings should receive a priority for upgrading. Hence, accident/hazard prediction models are required to identify the most hazardous highway-rail grade crossings for safety improvement projects. This study selects and evaluates the accident and hazard prediction models found in the highway-rail grade crossing safety literature to rank the highway-rail grade crossings in the State of Florida. Three approaches are undertaken to evaluate the candidate accident and hazard prediction models, including the chi-square statistic, grouping of crossings based on the actual accident data, and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The analysis was conducted for the 589 highway-rail grade crossings located in the State of Florida using the data available through the highway-rail grade crossing inventory database maintained by the Federal Railroad Administration. As a result of the performed analysis, a new hazard prediction model, named as the Florida Priority Index Formula, is recommended to rank/prioritize the highway-rail grade crossings in the State of Florida. The Florida Priority Index Formula provides a more accurate ranking of highway-rail grade crossings as compared to the alternative methods. The Florida Priority Index Formula assesses the potential hazard of a given highway-rail grade crossing based on the average daily traffic volume, average daily train volume, train speed, existing traffic control devices, accident history, and crossing upgrade records.

Preliminary Analysis of Light Rail Crashes in Denver, Colorado

2012 ◽  
Vol 2275 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela M. Fischhaber ◽  
Bruce N. Janson
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Traffic Signals ◽  
Control Device ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Crash Prediction ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Grade Crossings

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of light rail crashes at at-grade crossings in Denver, Colorado, based on Regional Transportation District data for 1999 through 2009. Differences in design and operation of at-grade crossings are discussed for light rail versus common carrier railroad (railroad). The differences appear to warrant the development of separate crash prediction and hazard index models because models developed for railroad at-grade crossing operations may not accurately predict the number and severity of crashes at light rail at-grade crossings. In addition, the models developed for railroads do not predict crashes at crossings for some traffic control device types such as traffic signals. The lack of information for crossings controlled by traffic signals in the railroad crash prediction equations is one reason why equations specific to light rail may need to be developed. This study identifies patterns in light rail crossing crash data that warrant further investigation and support the development of crash prediction models and hazard index equations specific to light rail at-grade crossing configurations and operations.

Warrants for Active Warning Devices at Low-Volume Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaya Lakshmi Kunisetty ◽  
Angela Jannini Weissmann ◽  
Jose Weissmann ◽  
Mijia Yang ◽  
Steven P. Venglar
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
High Volume ◽  
The State ◽  
First Year ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Priority Index ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Relevant Variables ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Grade Crossings

The main objective of this research is to reduce the number of crashes between vehicles and trains at low-volume passive highway-rail at grade crossings by developing a revised safety index and warrants for active warning devices in the state of Texas. The research is focused only on low-volume crossings because most high-volume crossings in the state of Texas have already received improvements in terms of traffic control devices as the existing Texas priority index prioritizes high-volume crossings. This technical paper will describe and provide the most up-to-date preliminary results for warrants of the first year study in a two year Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) 0-6642 project called “Developing Warrants for Active Warning Devices at Low-Volume Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.” In order to prioritize the crossings that meet warrants a priority index should be used. The current Texas priority index places more emphasis on high-volume crossings with crash history and it doesn’t include several important variables. In order to address the issues of the current Texas priority index a new Texas Passive Crossing Index was developed based on a different concept — instead of using numeric thresholds, cumulative percentiles of the relevant variables are used.

Plan of Action To Reduce Vehicle-Train Crashes in Alabama

1998 ◽  
Vol 1648 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-18
Author(s):  
Brian L. Bowman ◽  
Kristen Stinson ◽  
Cecil Colson
Keyword(s):  
Action Plan ◽  
The State ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Judicial Reform ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Legislative Action ◽  
Intersection Safety ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Grade Crossings ◽  
Comprehensive Study

In April 1996, the state of Alabama Legislature, through the passage of Act 503, directed the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to conduct a comprehensive study of rail-highway grade crossings in the state and recommend methods to drastically reduce the number of vehicle-train crashes. Senate Act 503 states: “… That the Alabama Department of Transportation is directed to conduct a comprehensive study of the rail/highway grade crossings in the state and present a plan to this body recommending methods to dramatically reduce vehicle/train accidents by the first day of the 1997 Regular Session.” In response to Act 503, the Multimodal Bureau of ALDOT developed an Action Plan that compared Alabama’s grade crossing crash experience with the experience of the national and southeastern states to identify the prevalent characteristics, identified the perceived needs of safety and railroad professionals required to decrease vehicle-train crashes and crash severity, and compiled a list of recommendations and activities required for implementation. The activities and results of the Act 503 study documented in the final report are summarized (1). It discusses the engineering, economic, educational, enforcement, and emotional impediments to increasing rail-highway intersection safety and presents a broad range of realistic countermeasures. These countermeasures include legislative action; judicial reform; and enforcement, economic, and education initiatives.

scholarly journals Exploring the Effects of Signs’ Design and In-Vehicle Audio Warning on Driver Behavior at Flashing-Light-Controlled Grade Crossings: A Driving Simulator-Based Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingsi Yang ◽  
Xuedong Yan ◽  
Qingwan Xue ◽  
Xiaomeng Li ◽  
Ke Duan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Pavement Markings ◽  
Crossing Time ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Flashing Light ◽  
Grade Crossings

The complex environment at grade crossings and the severe collision consequences give rise to the concern of safety condition at crossings among traffic control authorities. Optimizing conventional devices and applying emerging technologies are worthwhile measures to improve the safety conditions at grade crossings. In this study, a flashing-light running (FLR) warning system was proposed to reduce crossing violation and improve performances of drivers at flashing-light-controlled grade crossings (FLCGCs). Forty-four fully licensed drivers aged between 30 and 48 years participated in a driving simulator study to investigate the efficacy of two countermeasures of the system: proposed design of signs and pavement markings (PSM) for grade crossing, and two-stage in-vehicle audio warning (IVAW) technology. A range of flashing light trigger timing and two foggy conditions were designed in this experiment to test the system applicability. Drivers’ gender and vocation were considered as well to examine drivers’ adaptation to the new proposed system. Five variables were collected and analyzed in this study to investigate the effectiveness of the system, i.e., drivers’ compliance, approaching mean speed, brake reaction time, deceleration, and red-to-crossing time. Results showed that drivers’ driving performances were improved in both PSM only condition and PSM + W condition. The FLR warning system could eliminate the negative effects of foggy weather and reduce gender differences in driver behaviors to some extent. These findings suggested that the FLR warning system has a potential to reduce the probability of grade crossing collisions.

scholarly journals Enhanced Traffic Control Devices at Passive Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings

1998 ◽  
Vol 1648 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Noyce ◽  
Daniel B. Fambro
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Warning Sign ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Strobe Light ◽  
Sign System ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
Grade Crossings ◽  
Driver Error

More than 2,000 crashes and 239 fatalities were reported at public passive highway-railroad grade crossings in 1994. Driver error, often due to a breakdown in communication between traffic control devices and the driver, is commonly cited as a factor in passive grade crossing crashes. The objective of this study was to evaluate an improved method for communicating with drivers in an effort to improve safety at passive grade crossings. Specifically, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a vehicle-activated strobe light and supplemental sign as enhancements to the railroad advance (W10-1) warning sign at a passive highway-railroad grade crossing near Temple, Texas. Three study methods were used to evaluate this enhanced sign system including a before and after speed study, a driver survey, and a driver observation study. The results indicated that average speeds on the approaches to the grade crossing were lower after the installation of the enhanced sign system. Drivers responded favorably to the enhanced sign system, and no adverse driver reactions were observed at the onset of the flashing strobe light. The strobe light was effective in directing drivers’ attention to the railroad advance warning and supplemental signs. The enhanced sign system appears to increase driver awareness of the passive grade crossing, cause some drivers to approach the grade crossing with additional caution, and reduce the average speed near the nonrecovery zone on both approaches.

Microsimulation Analysis of Highway-Rail Grade Crossings: A Case Study in Lincoln, Nebraska

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence R. Rilett ◽  
Justice Appiah
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategy ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Microscopic Traffic Simulation ◽  
Variable Message Signs ◽  
Driver Response ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Grade Crossings ◽  
Message Signs ◽  
Different Levels

This paper examines the usefulness of supplementing railroad preemption operations at highway-rail grade crossings with variable message signs. Using the microscopic traffic simulation model, VISSIM, the effects on grade crossing operations of different train dwell times as well as different levels of driver response to a variable message sign in the vicinity of the crossing are assessed. The results affirm the potential usefulness of variable message signs for preventing lengthy queues and illustrate the importance of explicitly considering the delay experienced by vehicles on the blocked roadway in developing a traffic control strategy for highway-rail grade crossings.

scholarly journals Accident and hazard prediction models for highway–rail grade crossings: a state-of-the-practice review for the USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-274
Author(s):  
Olumide F. Abioye ◽  
Maxim A. Dulebenets ◽  
Junayed Pasha ◽  
Masoud Kavoosi ◽  
Ren Moses ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Severe Injuries ◽  
Accident Prediction ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Practice Review ◽  
Grade Crossings

Abstract Highway–rail grade crossings (HRGCs) are one of the most dangerous segments of the transportation network. Every year numerous accidents are recorded at HRGCs between highway users and trains, between highway users and traffic control devices, and solely between highway users. These accidents cause fatalities, severe injuries, property damage, and release of hazardous materials. Researchers and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have addressed safety concerns at HRGCs in the USA by investigating the factors that may cause accidents at HRGCs and developed certain accident and hazard prediction models to forecast the occurrence of accidents and crossing vulnerability. The accident and hazard prediction models are used to identify the most hazardous HRGCs that require safety improvements. This study provides an extensive review of the state-of-the-practice to identify the existing accident and hazard prediction formulae that have been used over the years by different state DOTs. Furthermore, this study analyzes the common factors that have been considered in the existing accident and hazard prediction formulae. The reported performance and implementation challenges of the identified accident and hazard prediction formulae are discussed in this study as well. Based on the review results, the US DOT Accident Prediction Formula was found to be the most commonly used formula due to its accuracy in predicting the number of accidents at HRGCs. However, certain states still prefer customized models due to some practical considerations. Data availability and data accuracy were identified as some of the key model implementation challenges in many states across the country.

Statehood and the State-Like in International Law

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowan Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
International Law ◽  
The State ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Important Conclusion ◽  
Territorial Integrity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Imperial China ◽  
Peremptory Norms ◽  
Legal Sense

If the term were given its literal meaning, international law would be law between ‘nations’. It is often described instead as being primarily between states. But this conceals the diversity of the nations or state-like entities that have personality in international law or that have had it historically. This book reconceptualizes statehood by positioning it within that wider family of state-like entities. An important conclusion of the book is that states themselves have diverse legal underpinnings. Practice in cases such as Somalia and broader principles indicate that international law provides not one but two alternative methods of qualifying as a state: subject to exceptions connected with territorial integrity and peremptory norms, an entity can be a state either on the ground that it meets criteria of effectiveness or on the ground that it is recognized by all other states. Another conclusion is that states, in the strict legal sense in which the word is used today, have never been the only state-like entities with personality in international law. Others from the past and present include imperial China in the period when it was unreceptive to Western norms; pre-colonial African chiefdoms; ‘states-in-context’, an example of which may be Palestine, which have the attributes of statehood relative to states that recognize them; and entities such as Hong Kong.

New Intersection Crash Prediction Models for the Second Edition of the Highway Safety Manual

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110398
Author(s):  
Darren J. Torbic ◽  
Daniel Cook ◽  
Joseph Grotheer ◽  
Richard Porter ◽  
Jeffrey Gooch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Highway Safety ◽  
Crash Severity ◽  
Crash Prediction ◽  
Part C ◽  
Highway Safety Manual ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Diamond Interchanges ◽  
Crash Prediction Models

The objective of this research was to develop new intersection crash prediction models for consideration in the second edition of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), consistent with existing methods in HSM Part C and comprehensive in their ability to address a wide range of intersection configurations and traffic control types in rural and urban areas. The focus of the research was on developing safety performance functions (SPFs) for intersection configurations and traffic control types not currently addressed in HSM Part C. SPFs were developed for the following general intersection configurations and traffic control types: rural and urban all-way stop-controlled intersections; rural three-leg intersections with signal control; intersections on high-speed urban and suburban arterials (i.e., arterials with speed limits greater than or equal to 50 mph); urban five-leg intersections with signal control; three-leg intersections where the through movements make turning maneuvers at the intersections; crossroad ramp terminals at single-point diamond interchanges; and crossroad ramp terminals at tight diamond interchanges. Development of severity distribution functions (SDFs) for use in combination with SPFs to estimate crash severity as a function of geometric design elements and traffic control features was explored; but owing to challenges and inconsistencies in developing and interpreting the SDFs, it was recommended for the second edition of the HSM that crash severity for the new intersection configurations and traffic control types be addressed in a manner consistent with existing methods in Chapters 10, 11, and 12 of the first edition, without use of SDFs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document