Evaluating Driver Behavior Toward Innovative Warning Devices at Railway Level Crossings Using a Driving Simulator

Control at railway level crossings, using either road rumble strips or in-vehicle auditory warning devices, has the potential to improve safety. This article evaluates driver behavior of these two devices and two conventional crossing devices (flashing lights and a stop sign) using a driving simulator. Rumble strips have been seen to encourage drivers to reduce speed earlier on approach to a level crossing but did not affect stopping compliance. In-vehicle auditory warnings have produced high compliance and, overall, have produced behavior comparable to that seen for conventional flashing lights. However, the detailed design features of such devices require further development before more concrete conclusions can be drawn. Contributing factors of age, gender, speed, and types of warning devices were all found to significantly affect driver behavior at crossings. Overall, the results indicate that drivers behave differently and demonstrate higher signal compliance at actively protected crossings than at passively protected crossings for alternative and conventional warning devices.