An analysis of factors contributing to train-involved crashes

Abstract

A railroad-highway grade crossing is a unique intersection in that two different modes of transportation (trains and vehicles) use the same physical space. Many factors can contribute to collisions between trains and vehicles at these crossings. Crashes involving trains and vehicles are a significant safety problem in Texas each year. This research attempts to identify and analyze contributing factors to train-involved accidents in Texas. Three years of accident data (1328 total accidents) were analyzed for the contributing factors. The contributing factors were classified into four categories: railroad factors, environmental factors, roadway factors, and driver/passenger factors. The accident data was analyzed using one and two-way classification tables. The frequency distributions for the accidents included in this study were compared to the corresponding frequency distributions for national or statewide accidents using a Chi-Square statistical test. Finally, research hypotheses were formulated based on a literature review of driver behavior and previous accident studies and then tested using population proportion tests. The results of the identification of contributing factors showed that tried to beat train, impaired driver, stuck, stalled, or stopped on tracks, driving around gates, and driver inattention were the five most frequent primary contributing factors. The Chi-Square comparison of frequency distributions for accidents included in this study showed that the protection type, time of day, light conditions, driver race and sex, accident severity, location type, and roadway class were statistically different compared to the corresponding national and statewide frequency distributions. The analysis of the research hypotheses showed that hypotheses 3, 8, and 10 were supported according to the population proportion testing.