BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FACTORS INFLUENCING RAILWAY CROSSING BEHAVIORS

Abstract

A railway level crossing is a risk area despite installations of the warning signal and arm gate that indicate a train approach. Accidents may nevertheless occur if vehicle drivers violate or fail to conform to the rules. Such action is considered a risk behavior that may cause severe collision, injury, and death. Thus, the driver behaviors are the key factors causing accidents. The objective of this study was thus to investigate the risk behaviors and the factors influencing above behaviors. These behaviors were recorded by a high-resolution video camera and the initial data analysis was based on descriptive statistics. An in-depth analysis of the factors influencing the risk behaviors was performed by using Pearson Chi-square technique and Binary Logistic Regression Analysis. The results showed that the railway crossing behaviors of more than half of the drivers under the study were the risk-taking, followed by opportunistic violation. Most violations occurred during the beginning of the warning signal. Overall, the motorcycle riders were found to be the group with greater chance of violating across the railway during the warning signal than the 4-wheeled vehicle drivers. Especially, during the period between the beginning of the warning signal and the complete arm gate closure, as well as the greater width of the crossing road. This could be due to the higher agility and evasive capability of motorcycle riders than 4-wheeled drivers. Additionally, this study recommends approaches to initially prevent or reduce this risky behavior and can serve as a guideline for enhancing areas with physical characteristics similar to the study area.