Human Factors in the Analysis of the “Tram-Car Drivers” at Intersections

Abstract

The modern tramway has resurfaced as the cure to today?s urban transport problems such as pollution, road congestion and uneven access to transit. However trams at intersections often experience frequent and extended delays due to vehicles crossing the tram tracks. There is an increased potential for conflict between trams and vehicles at these locations and crashes are common. The question of the effects of human factors on trams crossroads safety has been little dealt with in literature. The general aim of this article is to further knowledge about the influence of tramway and surrounding environment on car?s driver behavior at intersections. Understanding these influences, involve conducting a systematic review of the cognitive tasks related to driving and identifying the hazards that can arise at each task, and what factors can make these more or less likely to arise, considering the environmental design at intersections and behavioral factors. To achieve that, the Hazop approach is conducted for this study. Concerning data collection, the methodology includes site visits to record user behavior and questionnaires to determine the opinion, concerns and knowledge of car drivers in interaction with the tram environment.