United States Department of Transportation
i
Evaluation of IdaShield sign safety benefits at highway-rail crossing in Idaho.
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2014-11-01
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[PDF-2.65 MB]
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Abstract: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 marker’s 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.
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