Driving Simulator Evaluation of the Failure of an Audio In-vehicle Warning for Railway Level Crossings

Abstract

It is impracticable to upgrade the 18,900 Australian passive crossings as such crossings are often located in remote areas, where power is lacking and with low road and rail traffic. The rail industry is interested in developing innovative in-vehicle technology interventions to warn motorists of approaching trains directly in their vehicles. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the benefits of the introduction of such technology. We evaluated the changes in driver performance once the technology is enabled and functioning correctly, as well as the effects of an unsafe failure of the technology? We conducted a driving simulator study where participants (N = 15) were familiarised with an in-vehicle audio warning for an extended period. After being familiarised with the system, the technology started failing, and we tested the reaction of drivers with a train approaching. This study has shown that with the traditional passive crossings with RX2 signage, the majority of drivers complied (70 %) and looked for trains on both sides of the rail track. With the introduction of the in-vehicle audio message, drivers did not approach crossings faster, did not reduce their safety margins and did not reduce their gaze towards the rail tracks. However, participants' compliance at the stop sign decreased by 16.5 % with the technology installed in the vehicle. The effect of the failure of the invehicle audio warning technology showed that most participants did not experience difficulties in detecting the approaching train even though they did not receive any warning message. This showed that participants were still actively looking for trains with the system in their vehicle. However, two participants did not stop and one decided to beat the train when they did not receive the audio message, suggesting potential human factors issues to be considered with such technology.

Validation of a Driving Simulator Study on Driver Behavior at Passive Rail Level Crossings

“…This validation focused on approach speeds and stopping compliance. Relative validation was considered the most important for validating the results of past railway crossing experiments on the simulator (Kim et al, 2013; Larue et al, 2015; Larue, Rakotonirainy, & Haworth, 2016; Larue, Wullems, & Naweed, 2016; Lenné et al, 2011; Tey, Wallis, Cloete, & Ferreira, 2013) as well as future experiments of new interventions.…”

Advanced Driver Information System at Critical Points of the Multimodal Traffic Network

“…Despite this slight increase in speed, drivers slow down more intensively during the application of the system [13]. On the negative side, with the active warning system, participants' obedience to the STOP sign decreased by 16.5%, but in case of system failure, most participants had no difficulty in detecting road hazards even though they did not receive any warning message [14], meaning that in-vehicle warning systems have a lasting effect on driver behaviour even after the system is no longer present [15]. Field research [16] shows that the predicted crash risk decreases as the approach speed decreases (Figure 1).…”

An Advanced Driver Information System at Critical Points in the Multimodal Traffic Network

“…Despite this, drivers slow down more intensively with the application of the system [13]. On the negative side, with the active warning system participants' obedience to the STOP sign decreased by 16.5%, but in the case of system failure, most participants had no difficulty in detecting road hazards despite not receiving any warning message [14], meaning that in-vehicle warning systems can have a sustained impact on driver behavior even after the system has been removed or is no longer active [15]. Field research [16] shows that the predicted crash risk decreases as the approach speed decreases (Figure 1).…”