Pilot Study for Preventing Incorrect Turns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

Lin, Pei-Sung; Wang, Zhenyu; Vasili, Abhijit; Schultz, Deborah · 2017 · ROSA P / University of South Florida. Center for Urban Transportation Research

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Summary

This pilot study addresses the critical safety issue of incorrect turns at highway-rail grade crossings, which contribute to serious injuries and fatalities. Motivated by previous research identifying five major causes of such errors—including misleading signs, low visibility, GPS inaccuracies, skewed crossings, and driver distraction—the study focuses on countermeasures targeting potentially confusing pavement markings and signs. Specifically, right-turn arrow markings placed immediately before railroad tracks often mislead drivers into turning onto the tracks rather than at nearby downstream intersections. The research aims to develop and evaluate low-cost, MUTCD-compatible countermeasures to provide clear guidance and reduce driver confusion. The study, conducted by the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), proposes four specific countermeasures: (1) eliminating potentially misleading pavement markings and signs near crossings; (2) implementing pavement markings with guidance information, such as straight arrows combined with route shields or directional text; (3) extending edge lines across the track area to delineate the traveled way; and (4) installing Qwick Kurb devices to prevent U-turns on tracks. The researchers coordinated with FDOT Districts 1, 4, and 7 to select ten pilot sites across Florida. A detailed deployment plan was established, including estimated costs and technical specifications. The evaluation design utilizes a before-after study methodology. Data collection involves installing Wavetronix SmartSensors with video cameras at each site to record speed profiles and vehicle counts during daytime and nighttime periods. The primary metric for analysis is the "hesitation rate" of vehicles approaching the crossing, comparing pre-implementation conditions with post-implementation results. The report details the development of an incorrect-turn incident history inventory for Florida (2010–2014) using crash data from FDOT, the Federal Railroad Administration, and news reports to identify high-risk locations. It also reviews the effectiveness of similar pavement marking countermeasures used to combat wrong-way driving, citing significant reductions in wrong-way maneuvers in previous studies. The proposed countermeasures are designed to be holistic; for instance, replacing turn arrows with straight guidance arrows while extending edge lines aims to clearly signal that the crossing is not a turning point. The study provides specific site characteristics, such as the removal of continuous turn arrows and the addition of straight arrows with target road names at locations like Combee Rd @ US 92 and US 41 @ US 301. The significance of this work lies in providing a structured, evidence-based framework for preventing incorrect turns at grade crossings through low-cost infrastructure modifications. By establishing a rigorous evaluation plan focused on hesitation rates, the study aims to generate data that supports the widespread implementation of these countermeasures in Florida. The findings are intended to guide future traffic safety management strategies, offering a practical solution to mitigate the risk of vehicles entering railroad tracks, thereby enhancing safety for both road and rail users.

Key finding

The study established a deployment and evaluation plan for ten pilot sites but did not report completed evaluation results or statistical findings on the effectiveness of the countermeasures.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 10

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
• perceptual countermeasures