Skewed rail-highway grade crossings can be a safety problem because of the restrictions which the angle of crossing may place upon a motorist's ability to detect an oncoming train and because of the potential roadway hazard which the use of flangeways in crossing surfaces poses for cyclists. This study has found that restrictions on sight distance at skewed grade crossings in Virginia where design requirements cannot be met have usually been imposed by vegetation, buildings, or embankments and not be the angle of crossing. The investigation of cyclist accidents has shown that these accidents appear to be limited to crossings that intersect the centerline of the highway at an angle of 30 degrees or less. To improve safety at these crossings, it is suggested that cyclist warning signs be installed, a section on skewed crossing hazards be added to the Virginia Motorcycle Operator's Manual, instruction in skewed crossing safety be included in the Department of Education's bicycle safety program, and, at those crossings where cyclist accidents are a frequent occurrence, engineering feasibility studies be conducted on the use of a rubber crossing surface with filler strips in the flangeways.


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    Title :

    Investigation of Safety Problems at Skewed Rail-Highway Grade Crossings


    Contributors:
    E. Paltell (author)

    Publication date :

    1984


    Size :

    40 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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