How Safe Are Level Road-railway Crossings for the Most Sustainable Transportation Modes
: PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS?
| DOWNLOAD | DOI: 10.62897/COS2024.2-1.37 |
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Author: Marcell Ladich, Dániel Miletics Multidisciplinary Doctoral School of Engineering Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Győr,Hungary Department of Transport Infrastructure and Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Transport Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungary |
Abstract: Relative to the volume of traffic, there are fewer accidents at level road-railway crossings than at road intersections. The better accident rates are primarily due to the strict regulation of the rail transport system. Level road-railway crossings are usually distinguished according to, among others, the safety devices used at the crossing, which primarily depends on the amount of traf- fic. Secured passages are most often provided with light barriers or light barriers and half barri- ers. At the same time, the safety systems for pedestrians and cyclists in many railway crossings fall short of that for motorised vehicles; for example, in railway crossings secured with light and half barriers, pedestrians only have a calling light signal. The barrier has sufficient deterrent force for vehicles, while pedestrians and cyclists can move more freely on the less secured facil- ities, which is why irregular, dangerous crossings are more likely to occur. The safety of pedes- trians and cyclists, which are considered the most sustainable transportation modes, deserves more attention in the case of railway crossings as well. The aim of this paper is to examine the safety of pedestrians and cyclists at railway crossings based on a literature review, field surveys, accident data and behaviour questionnaires.
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