Human factors at railway level crossings : key issues and target road user groups

Abstract

As the interface between roads and train lines, railway level crossings are the potential site for vehicle-train collisions. Due to the lack of financial viability in solely approaching this issue from an engineering perspective, there is increased interest in a human factors perspective. This chapter will outline the findings from preliminary research conducted as part of a three-year study of motorist behaviour at railway level crossings in Australia. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 122 participants from the at-risk road user groups of: heavy vehicles; older drivers and younger drivers. Risk behaviours and attitudes were found to differ between sub groups and by setting which has strong implications for the design of educational interventions to improve motorist safety at level crossings.