An evaluation of the railway level crossing boom barrier program in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Abstract This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a program carried out in Victoria, Australia in which 91 metropolitan and major urban road-rail crossings were upgraded from “flashing light” status to “boom barrier” status during the 19-year period from 1971 to 1989. At these crossings, the number of deaths from motor-vehicle/train collisions was reduced from 61 before boom barrier installation to two thereafter, while the mortality rate (deaths per 100 crossing years) was similarly reduced from 5.71 to 0.33. In a control group, consisting wherever possible of the next “up” crossing on the same line as the upgraded crossing, the mortality rate increased from 1.22 to 1.63 deaths per 100 crossing years. A second comparison was then made between the same 91 crossings and the 82 crossings on the same lines where the flashing light installations had remained unchanged for the whole 19-year period. For this second group, the number of deaths from motor-vehicle/train collisions increased from 14 to 17 and the mortality rate increased from 1.31 to 2.77. It is concluded that the strategy of installing boom barriers at metropolitan and major urban road-rail crossings protected solely by twin alternating flashing lights is highly effective. This is deemed a significant finding since mortality rates at these crossings have previously been shown to be unusually high.