An investigation of safety problems at skewed rail-highway grade crossings.

Paltell, Eric · 1984 · ROSA P / Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)

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Summary

This 1984 study by Eric Paltell investigates safety hazards at skewed rail-highway grade crossings in Virginia, specifically focusing on sight distance restrictions for motorists and flangeway hazards for cyclists. Skewed crossings, defined as those intersecting the highway centerline at an angle of 70° or less, were examined to determine if the angle of skew contributes to vehicle-train collisions or cyclist accidents. The research was motivated by the potential for reduced visibility and the risk of bicycle or motorcycle tires catching in the grooves (flangeways) designed to accommodate train wheel flanges. The methodology involved a comprehensive review of literature, an inventory of 558 skewed rural crossings across five Virginia districts, and an analysis of accident records from 1978 to 1982. Accident data were reviewed for 178 crossings with high traffic volumes or prior collisions. Additionally, on-site surveys were conducted at 67 selected crossings to measure sight distances, assess crossing surface conditions, and interview local residents regarding unreported cyclist incidents. The study compared measured sight distances against design requirements based on vehicle and train speeds and evaluated the prevalence of cyclist accidents relative to crossing angles and surface types. The findings revealed that sight distance restrictions caused specifically by the angle of skew were not a significant safety problem in Virginia. While 162 of the inventoried crossings showed some restriction, on-site measurements indicated that when design requirements were not met, the causes were typically vegetation, buildings, or embankments rather than the crossing angle. Furthermore, existing warning devices, such as flashing lights and gates, effectively mitigated sight distance issues. In contrast, cyclist hazards were significant but localized. All reported cyclist accidents involving tires catching in flangeways occurred at crossings with an intersection angle of 30° or less. No such accidents were reported at crossings with angles greater than 30°. Factors contributing to these accidents included poor surface conditions, such as ruts and broken asphalt, and high volumes of cyclist traffic. The study concludes that while skew-induced sight distance problems are negligible in Virginia due to existing countermeasures, cyclist safety at sharply skewed crossings (≤30°) requires targeted interventions. Recommended countermeasures include installing cyclist warning signs, adding skewed crossing hazards to the Virginia Motorcycle Operator’s Manual, incorporating safety instruction into bicycle education programs, and conducting engineering feasibility studies for rubber crossing surfaces with filler strips at locations with frequent cyclist accidents. These filler strips can eliminate the inner flangeway hazard but are limited to crossings with train speeds not exceeding 10 mph due to durability concerns.

Key finding

Cyclist accidents at skewed rail-highway grade crossings in Virginia were exclusively limited to intersections with angles of 30 degrees or less, while sight distance restrictions were primarily caused by physical obstacles rather than the crossing angle.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 558

Provenance

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Topics

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• rail grade crossings