Citation

Briglia P. ITE J. 1984; 54(2): 43-47.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, Institute of Transportation Engineers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An analysis of Michigan's rail-highway crossing accidents for 1971-1981 using regression analysis was performed with statewide accidents as the dependent variable and time the independent variable. The calculated regression line accounted for almost none of the variance. Statewide accidents 1971-1981 could not be characterized by a continuous, increasing or decreasing straight line. A similar analysis with rail-crossing accidents as the dependent variable and time as the independent variable yielded a negatively sloping line (i.e. decreasing trend with time). Together these analyses indicated rail-crossing accidents were declining during a period of fluctuating statewide accident experience. To explain this decline exposure data were investigated. The evidence from this investigation, as presented in this article, makes it difficult to attribute a major share of the credit for the reduction of rail-crossing accidents to the Michigan rail-highway crossing improvement program.