LED-Enhanced Sign Research to Reduce Vehicle Queuing at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

Hellman, Adrian D. · 2020 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration

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Summary

This report evaluates the effectiveness of an integrated laser-triggered queue detection system and light-emitting diode (LED)-enhanced “DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS” sign in reducing vehicle queuing at highway-rail grade crossings. The research was motivated by a rise in grade crossing incidents, particularly those involving vehicles stopping on tracks due to heavy traffic, highlighted by a fatal 2015 collision in Valhalla, New York. The study aimed to determine if this experimental technology could improve driver compliance and traffic performance at crossings with limited storage space between upstream intersections and the tracks. Researchers at the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center conducted a before-and-after study at the Jay Street grade crossing on the Metro-North Railroad in Katonah, New York. The test site was selected for its geometry, which creates a high risk of vehicles queuing on the tracks. Baseline video data was collected from April to June 2018 using a solar-powered camera system. In October 2018, the standard regulatory sign was replaced with an LED-enhanced version triggered by a laser detection system that activates only when vehicles stop in the queuing zone. Post-installation data was collected in May 2019 using an upgraded video recording system. Researchers analyzed vehicle stopping patterns across three defined zones relative to the tracks to measure changes in driver behavior. The statistical analysis revealed that the number of vehicles stopped in the zonal area of the grade crossing decreased by 26.6 percent from the baseline to the post-installation configuration. This reduction indicates that the laser-triggered LED sign effectively discouraged drivers from stopping on the tracks during heavy traffic conditions. The study also assessed the reliability of the solar-based power system, noting challenges with battery performance in the Northeast climate, though the system ultimately functioned for the duration of the post-installation data collection. While the results demonstrate a promising safety improvement, the authors caution that the findings are based on a single crossing. The report concludes that a controlled testing program at multiple locations is necessary to definitively characterize the technology’s effectiveness before recommending wider implementation. The study provides preliminary evidence that active, queue-triggered signage can mitigate the risk of vehicles stopping on railroad tracks, addressing a significant contributor to grade crossing accidents.

Key finding

The number of vehicles stopped in the zonal area of the grade crossing decreased by 26.6 percent from the baseline to the post-installation configurations.

Methodology

naturalistic

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• rail grade crossings