Citation

Dommasch IN, Hollinger RL, Reilly EF. Transp. Res. Rec. 1976; 611: 58-59.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study of designs for passive control established 3 basic objectives. The first phase of this project developed field techniques to measure the effectiveness of passive designs. Four measures were formulated and tested in 3 pilot studies. The studies showed that the standard deviation of the spot speeds on the crossing was high in relation to the variation of spot speeds on approach. Head movements of motorists looking down the tracks were found to be virtually nonexistent. Brake lights were applied on the approach to the rail crossing in only 7.6 percent of the vehicles, even though over 60 percent of the motorists claimed to slow down. Two combinations of experimental advance and cross-bulk signs were developed and evaluated. Before and after studies were compared and an increased motorists awareness was noted at 6 sites. The increases in percentage of motorists observed applying brakes and increases in average spot speed reductions at the track, and the decrease in percentage of motorists responding to the question of slowing down, indicate a more pronounced slowing with experimental signs than with conventional signs.