Citation

Berg WD, Fuchs C, Coleman J. Transp. Res. Rec. 1980; 773: 1-6.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper presents the findings and conclusions of a study to develop an experimental design and analysis plan for field testing and evaluation of the accident-reduction potential of a proposed new railroad grade-crossing advance-warning sign. Several alternative sampling frameworks were initially developed to determine which might offer the most-efficient design in terms of required sample size. It was found that for a three- to five-year data collection period, the sample size required to detect even a 5 percent reduction in accident rate could exceed the total population of available sites. Therefore, an analysis was undertaken to determine the minimum relative reduction in accident rate that would economically justify deployment of the new advance-warning sign. The cost of undertaking the field studies and analyses was then evaluated so that it could be compared with the expected value or usefulness of the information to be derived from the study. The results indicated that the proposed accident study would be both experimentally and economically impractical. It was therefore recommended that an accident study not be undertaken. Several alternative policy options are then examined.