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Accepted VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Loud and clear? Train horn practice at railway level crossings in Australia
Applied Ergonomics, Vol.95, pp.1-10
2021
PMID: 33989951
Abstract
The road environment has changed markedly over the years. Train horns are ostensibly used to alert road users and are typically mandatory on approach to railway level crossings. However, they have increasingly been seen as a nuisance. Beyond their negative aspects, a study has yet to comprehensively evaluate train horn effectiveness and understand if they remain beneficial and relevant in the contemporary environment. Hence, this study aimed to provide evidence on the actual use of train horns. Field observations were conducted at 54 railway crossings across four Australian States. The effects of level crossing type, location, and environmental conditions were investigated in relation to train horn loudness as objectively measured at the crossing. Results revealed that train horns were not always used, presenting an issue for passive level crossings. However, when sounded, train horn use was redundant and insufficiently loud at level crossings equipped with bells. Taken together, current train horn practice was found to be highly variable and dependent on crossing type, remoteness, and individual train drivers, thus resulting in inconsistent warnings and raising important implications for standardisation.
Details
- Title
- Loud and clear? Train horn practice at railway level crossings in Australia
- Authors
- Grégoire S Larue (Corresponding Author) - Queensland University of TechnologySepehr G Dehkordi (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyChristopher N Watling (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyAnjum Naweed (Author) - Central Queensland University
- Publication details
- Applied Ergonomics, Vol.95, pp.1-10
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103433
- ISSN
- 1872-9126; 0003-6870
- PMID
- 33989951
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2021. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
- Organisation Unit
- Road Safety Research Collaboration; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99679186302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Industrial
- Ergonomics
- Psychology, Applied
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