Pilot Test of the Effect of Train Arrival Time Consistency on Driver Behavior at Highway Rail Grade Crossings

Gabree, Scott H.; Young, Jared

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Pilot Test of the Effect of Train Arrival Time Consistency on Driver Behavior at Highway Rail Grade Crossings

2026-09-11
By Gabree, Scott H. ; Young, Jared

File Language:

English

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Creators:

Gabree, Scott H. ; Young, Jared
Corporate Creators:

John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate Contributors:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Development and Technology
Subject/TRT Terms:
Publication/ Report Number:

DOT/FRA/ORD-26/22
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Contracting Officer:

Jacobini, Francesco Bedini
Corporate Publisher:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Abstract:

The Federal Railroad Administration sponsored the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to develop an experimental procedure to understand the decision-making process of motorists at highway-rail grade crossings (HRGC) using a driving simulator. While the results of the initial pilot study on the effects of train arrival time were inconclusive, the experimental procedure that was developed may help inform future HRGC simulator studies. The first HRGC study using FRA's driving simulator sought to validate the theoretical framework of Dr. Tom Raslear, who investigated the impacts on driver behavior of train arrival time variability. Dr. Raslear's model predicted that increased variability in train arrival time at HRGCs may reduce the likelihood that a motorist will drive around active crossing gates. Federal regulations may have led to a public perception that trains arrive approximately 20 seconds after the onset of the warning device. The intention of this pilot study was to help FRA determine if a driving simulator provides an adequate environment to validate the proposed model. The results of this pilot effort may be used to help determine if a more complete study is warranted.
Format:

PDF
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93431/dot_93431_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.05 MB]
Collection(s):

Federal Railroad Administration
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:fbe31ff2a8b0b191a524d6816da8b9b83567826df964ccc94fdd2e208826bebf7e270d7d99b12bff95bfcc4fc0540a19ce936f362b23b1bb0cac4f14a0b83fd9

File Language:

English

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