Field Evaluation of Innovative Active Warning Devices for Use at Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings

摘要

Research was conducted to identify and evaluate innovative active warning devices with potential for improving safety at railroad-highway grade crossings. Candidate devices were identified and/or developed, and the most promising devices were evaluated in a detailed laboratory study. Three of the devices were chosen for field evaluation: (1) four-quadrant gates with skirts and flashing light signals; (2) four-quadrant flashing light signals with overhead strobes; and (3) highway traffic signals with white bar strobes in all red lenses. The report documents the methodology and results of the field evaluations, presents a summary of the research leading up to the field evaluations, and presents the results of benefit-cost analyses for the innovative devices and guidelines for their implementation. All three of the innovative devices proved to be technically feasible and practical, and all three devices were accepted and understood by the driving public.