United States Department of Transportation
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A Preliminary Laboratory Investigation of Passive Railroad Crossing Signs
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1993-12-01
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[PDF-1.30 MB]
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Edition:Final
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Abstract:In 1990, 2,378 accidents, or 47% of all accidents that occurred at grade crossings, occurred at passively signed crossings. This demonstrates the need for an effective passive device at railroad crossings to warn motorists and reduce the number of train-vehicle accidents. The object of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of seven candidate passive railroad crossing signs, including the current standard crossbuck. Forty-two young/middle aged (25 to 45 years) and forty-two older (65 to 85 years) subjects were tested in the experiment. Data on recognition distance, conspicuity, and comprehension were collected. The results showed no differences between signs for recognition distance. There were statistically significant differences for the conspicuity measure, with the signs falling into three overlapping groups. The Standard-Yield combination, Standard with Barber-Striped pole, and the Canadian-Conrail combination scored in the highest conspicuity group. The Standard-Conrail combination sign was at the midrange of the conspicuity scores. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Standard and the Canadian Crossbuck showed the worst conspicuity scores. Detailed analyses of the comprehension (meaning and action) responses showed that subjects would take the correct action between 33% and 100% of the time as a function of the different signs. The best responses were for the Yield to Trains configuration and the Standard-Yield combination. The worst responses were for the MUTCD Standard and the Canadian Crossbuck. The results of this study suggest that further evaluation is needed. The Standard-Yield combination, the Standard-Conrail combination, and the Yield to Trains combination appear to be good candidates for additional testing.
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