Dawna L. Rhoades and Michael Williams, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, USA
Abstract: The paper examines the current debate in the US and UK about the safety of the highway-rail intersection as a result of recent highway-rail crossing accidents in both countries. The paper compares and contrasts these two very different rail systems, specifically examining the structural and attitudinal factors that shape the safety of highway-rail crossings in both countries. The paper indicates that there were 339 fatalities at US grade crossings compared to 17 in the UK in 2004 and the analysis indicates that the US has almost twice the number of grade crossings as the UK, although UK motorists are slightly more likely to die in grade crossing accidents. The paper explains this result by the higher level of passenger versus freight traffic in the UK.
