Crashes involving heavy vehicles have been identified as a major safety issue in Australia and New Zealand with the volume of heavy vehicles expected to significantly increase over the next five to 10 years. In response to these issues, an investigation was undertaken into the design criteria for heavy vehicle entry to an intersection. From this investigation it was identified there was a need for an investigation of the road design requirements for heavy vehicles on the approaches to railway level crossings to identify how road design could be improved to more adequately cater for the safe passage of heavy vehicles through railway level crossings. A literature review was undertaken to identify the safety performance and design parameters relating to heavy vehicles on the approaches to railway crossings. It was found that the types of control were very similar across Australia, New Zealand, the United State of America and the United Kingdom and determined principally by sight distance requirements and availability. The identification of the factors that may be contributing to the crashes had to rely on an investigation of single-crash locations as there were no locations found with more than one crash. The investigation identified that many locations did not have warning signs installed to the standards at the time of the crash, sight distances for approaching vehicle drivers were obstructed by development on abutting properties or vegetation and delineation was poorly maintained. The outcomes of the investigation identified several improvement opportunities, principally improvements to guidance on applying the sight lines and sight distances for a range of approaches, particularly on curved road approaches. Other improvements suggested are the addition of a short stacking warning sign and improving delineation by having all road approaches sealed to enable pavement markings, such as the RAIL X and edgelines to be provided. Suggested improvement opportunities and amendments to the Guide to Road Design Part 4 and AS 1742.7:2016 are outlined in the report. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting