Driver behavior at flashing-light, rail-highway crossings

The risk of accident at flashing-light, rail-highway crossings has been found to be ten times higher than at crossings equipped with barriers. The purpose of the present investigation was to study driver behavior in rail-highway crossings and to relate measures of driver behavior to variables believed to be associated with increased risks of accident. About 2,000 drivers were observed in 16 different crossings with driver head movements as the major dependent variable. This variable exhibits wide variability among drivers as well as satisfactory interobserver reliability. The results showed that many drivers turned their head to look for trains in rail-highway crossings although the crossings were equipped with flashing warning lights. However, fewer drivers looked when the visibility was restricted, a factor that is associated with increased risk of accident, and in crossings with few trains per day. The conclusion from the present study is that flashing-light crossings should be designed in a way that redundant information about approaching trains should be easily available to the drivers.