POSITIVE-GUIDANCE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AT A RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING
1982
A rural railroad-highway grade crossing used exclusively by local drivers was selected for a positive-guidance demonstration project. Initially, and throughout the project, the crossing was controlled by STOP signs because of sight-distance restrictions. The project first upgraded the motorist-information system at the site by installing improved advance-warning signs and markings that conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. (The crossing is on a minor county road, not on the state system.) Then, application of the positive-guidance procedure resulted in the addition of rumble strips on both approaches and LOOK FOR TRAIN and HIDDEN XING signs on the more restricted approach. The as-is condition and the two levels of improvement were evaluated by observing the extent to which drivers slowed down at a safe rate, stopped at a safe distance from the track, and looked both ways before crossing. It was found that the positive-guidance procedure was workable, and the project yielded field-tested schemes for evaluation that can be recommended to other agencies that desire to use the positive-guidance system at grade crossings. However, overall, the project did not produce an improvement in driver behavior. In fact, the rumble strips induced some swerving into the oncoming lane and may have been responsible for the observed increase in vehicles crossing at reckless speeds. These findings, while essentially negative, are important because they document the difficulty of influencing drivers who are thoroughly familiar with a road. Rumble strips should be reserved for nonresidential areas where unfamiliar drivers are numerous. (Author)
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