Abstract
Collisions between trains and road users (drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians) at railway crossings remain a complex safety problem. Safety at railway level crossings is highly reliant on the decisions and actions of road users; therefore, adopting human factors and systems thinking approaches to the design of level crossings is vital. In relation to the physical design of a level crossing, adopting a human factors approach involves taking a user-centred perspective on design and supporting safe user decision-making and behaviour. This chapter provides an overview of human factors considerations and processes that can be used to improve railway level crossing safety, including the consideration of road user tasks while encountering and traversing crossings, design tools such as scenarios to consider user characteristics and motivations, and an overview of human factors risks and potential countermeasures that can address risk at different types of crossings. Overall, it is emphasised that each railway level crossing is unique and should be assessed and designed with relevance to the particular context in which it is situated.