Abstract
This paper uses collision and inventory data from the Federal Railroad Administration to compare warning devices for highway-rail grade crossings. Four specific warning device classes were examined: crossbucks only, stop signs, flashing lights and gates. Findings indicate that the highest collision rates occurred at locations where the warning device was a stop sign. Gates generally had the lowest collision rates. There was substantial variation in collision rates among states for a given class of device. These results indicate that stop signs may not provide the assumed level of enhanced safety over crossbucks and that more research is needed.