As part of research to identify and evaluate innovative active warning devices with the potential for improving safety at railroad-highway grade crossings, candidate devices were identified and developed, and the most promising devices were evaluated in detailed laboratory studies. Based on the results of the laboratory evaluation, three devices were evaluated in the field at actual crossings. One of the innovative active warning devices evaluated in the field was a four-quadrant gate and flashing light signal system with skirts. A before-and-after study approach was used to evaluate the four-quadrant gate system. Data were collected on measures of effectiveness (MOES) at the existing crossing with the standard two-quadrant gate system and then again at the same crossing after the four-quadrant gate system had been installed to allow a direct comparison of the impact on the MOES. With the installation of the four-quadrant gate system, MOES such as speeds, perception-brake reaction times, and deceleration levels did not indicate a change in driver behaviour. There were no measurable safety disadvantages to the four-quadrant gate system as measured by these MOES. The four-quadrant gate system had no effect on the level of service at the crossing but had a positive effect on driver behaviour at the crossing by eliminating risky and illegal behaviour as well as violations at the crossing, thus producing superb improvements in safety MOES. Such benefits are especially important at crossings with limited sight distance, high-speed trains, and multiple tracks.
Abstract