IVHS protection at light rail grade crossings

Many light rail grade crossings are located at the intersection of two streets. Rail movements through these complex intersections are typically protected by conventional traffic signals. There is considerable evidence to suggest that drivers do not fully understand their responsibilities at these crossings. When this misunderstanding results in an accident it can cost the transit operator and society millions of dollars (e.g., pain and suffering, lawsuits, and traveler delay). Unfortunately, such factors as budget constraints and space limitations preclude conventional grade crossing protection at many of these intersections. The study of the accident rates at various light rail crossings suggest that an intelligent collision avoidance system could reduce the frequency and severity of accidents. To date, research has quantified the costs of light rail grade crossing accidents and identified the causal events leading up to a collision. Furthermore, the authors have outlined a possible intelligent system to detect and respond to hazardous drivers. The intelligent system accomplishes three tasks: automobile detection, hazard prediction and a graduated response that depends on the hazard level. If such a system proves to be cost effective it would find wide application on the growing number of light rail systems in the USA and abroad. It could also be generalized to conventional railroad operations