Advanced Warning System to Improve Safety at Train Grade Crossings

Joaquin Haces-Garcia,Arturo Haces-Garcia,Francisco Haces-Garcia,Francisco Haces-Fernandez

doi:10.3390/su132111779

Joaquin Haces-Garcia, Arturo Haces-Garcia + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111779

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Oct 25, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Texas A&M University – Kingsville

Abstract

The severity of traffic accidents at train grade crossings has led to efforts in mitigating their potential damaging effects. Over the last 45 years, significant investment has been made at these crossings in the United States to reduce the number of accidents. Initially, these improvements reduced accidents, but in the last decade, the numbers have plateaued, even as additional safety investment has continued. Geospatial data from the Federal Railroad Administration was evaluated to ascertain the causes of the efficacy reduction of traditional safety measures. Temporal patterns were detected in diverse parameters that measure accident seriousness such as their frequency, financial damages, injuries, and deaths. An advanced warning system for motorist was proposed in this research to allow them enough time to change their schedules and driving routes, avoiding blockages caused by incoming trains. To avoid pitfalls from previous proposed systems the model will be initially implemented in locations with a high number of accidents and lower layout complexity for the railway, roads, and train grade crossings. Two railways in Texas were selected for the initial implementation of the system. The proposed pilot locations showed high potential for the development of the advanced warning system, in preparation for a broader effort to continue the improvement in safety at railway crossings.

Highlights

Even though vehicular accidents at train grade crossing are a small fraction of global highway crashes [1,2], their high damage potential makes them very concerning [3,4].Due to the large disproportion between the mass of the train and the road vehicle, most accidents involve serious injuries and deaths [5,6]
As accidents increased over time, it became evident that warning systems were required at the crossings to avoid accidents [14]
Thecharacanalyses characterized terized train grade crossing accidentsaccidents for the development of an advanced warning sys- system, which train grade crossing for the development of an advanced warning would aidpreventing in preventing accidents improving vehicle and traintraffic traffic flow

Summary

Introduction

Even though vehicular accidents at train grade crossing are a small fraction of global highway crashes [1,2], their high damage potential makes them very concerning [3,4].Due to the large disproportion between the mass of the train and the road vehicle, most accidents involve serious injuries and deaths [5,6]. Even though vehicular accidents at train grade crossing are a small fraction of global highway crashes [1,2], their high damage potential makes them very concerning [3,4]. As rail cargo and passenger traffic increases [7] the significant financial impacts derived from these incidents, including damaging vehicles, trains, and infrastructure, while simultaneously disrupting critical supply chain links, will be exacerbated [8,9]. Railways always have the right of way and vehicular traffic should invariably stop in the path of an approaching train [13]. Train grade crossings can be classified as passive and active, depending on their existing safety measures. Railway warning signs and stop signs are the most widely used [1]. Active measures include light and sound signals to catch the attention of the motorist and prevent them from traversing

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