Analysis of In-Vehicle Warning System for Rail-Road Level Crossings: Case Study in the City of Thessaloniki, Greece

Skoufas, Αnastasios; Basbas, Socrates; Grau, Josep Maria Salanova; Aifadopoulou, Georgia · 2020 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3311/pptr.14892

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study investigates the impact of a Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in-vehicle warning service on the driving dynamics of taxi drivers approaching Rail-Road Level Crossings (RRLCs) in Thessaloniki, Greece. Motivated by the high severity and frequency of RRLC accidents in the European Union, the research aims to assess whether C-ITS alerts, which inform drivers of approaching trains or the presence of a crossing, effectively modify professional driver behavior. The study focuses on three dynamic indicators: speed, acceleration, and jerk (rate of change of acceleration). The experimental design utilized data from the "SAFER-LC" pilot project. The C-ITS service employed Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and roadside units to generate audio-visual alerts via pop-up windows on taxi navigation devices. Alerts were triggered when taxis entered predefined road polygons near RRLCs or when a train was detected in a corresponding rail polygon. The study analyzed Floating Car Data (FCD) collected from two distinct periods: a baseline scenario involving 15 taxi drivers over 25 days without the C-ITS service, and an application scenario involving 168 taxi drivers over 28 days with the service active. Data were filtered to include only transits through six specific RRLC paths in western Thessaloniki, categorized by road geometry (rectilinear vs. sharp turns) and vertical signing elements. Statistical profiles of driving dynamics were estimated using Local Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing (LOESS) and Generalized Additive Models (GAM). The results revealed contrasting effects depending on the type of RRLC transit. For transits where the first road segment was rectilinear, the use of the C-ITS service was associated with a notable reduction in speed, indicating that the alerts successfully prompted drivers to adjust their behavior in straight approaches. However, for transits involving sharp turns or stop signs, the differentiation in driving dynamics between the baseline and application scenarios was minor, suggesting the warning system had less impact on behavior in these complex geometries. The study highlights that while the technology is feasible, its effectiveness in altering driving dynamics is context-dependent, particularly influenced by the road layout preceding the crossing. The significance of this research lies in providing empirical evidence on the behavioral impact of C-ITS services on professional drivers, a group often characterized by risky driving behaviors due to occupational stress. The findings suggest that in-vehicle warning systems can contribute to RRLC safety by encouraging speed reduction in specific scenarios, such as rectilinear approaches. However, the limited effect in other contexts underscores the need for tailored alert designs and further investigation into how road geometry and existing signage interact with technological warnings to optimize driver response and minimize distraction.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• rail grade crossings