INVESTIGATIONS OF RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING ACCIDENT DATA

This research resulted in improved techniques for predicting railroad-highway grade crossing accidents and their severity. Although many variables could not be investigated in the study, the capability for their subsequent consideration has been established. A framework for using accident prediction equations has been outlined and may be expanded as additional factors relating to safety improvements are investigated. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the occurrence of accidents and their severity at grade crossings. In this study, the ratio of the number of accidents for a group of crossings to the number of crossing years of exposure has evolved as a measure of the accident potential for a group of crossings. Future studies based on the Nationwide DOT-AAR grade crossing inventory and the revised FRA accident information will be helpful in establishing many other useful relationships between crossing characteristics and accident potential.