An Application of Signal Detection Theory for Understanding Driver Behavior at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

Details

• Alternative Title:
  53rd Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Creators:
  Yeh, Michelle ; Multer, Jordan ; Raslear, Thomas
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.) ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Railroad grade crossings
  • Grade crossing protection systems
  • Railroad traffic control devices
  • Traffic control devices
  • Decision making
  • Drivers
  • Safety factors
  • Human factors
  • Warning devices
  • Performance measurement
  More +
• Resource Type:
  Proceedings
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Abstract:
  We used signal detection theory to examine if grade crossing warning devices were effective because they increased drivers' sensitivity to a train's approach or because they encouraged drivers to stop. We estimated d' and β for eight warning devices using 2006 data from the Federal Railroad Administration's Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Accident/Incident database and Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory. We also calculated a measure of warning device effectiveness by comparing the maximum likelihood of an accident at a grade crossing with its observed probability. The 2006 results were compared to an earlier analysis of 1986 data. The collective findings indicate that grade crossing warning devices are effective because they encourage drivers to stop. Warning device effectiveness improved over the years, as drivers behaved more conservatively. Sensitivity also increased. The current model is descriptive, but it provides a framework for understanding driver decision-making at grade crossings and for examining the impact of proposed countermeasures.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9927/dot_9927_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 207.72 KB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center ; Federal Railroad Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:324bcfbbcaa608ebea3fcca5c43a72268f2683bb93ee8ad6f3baca5934b32c13a0f449f9f5c01258e813e1ae215917cf24b437e494a24b422099e2137c922419