Motor vehicle driver injury severity study under various traffic control at highway-rail grade crossings in the United States

•The research examines the impact of highway rail-grade crossing control type on driver injury severity.•Ordered probit models were developed for driver injury under active and passive control.•Marginal effects analysis were utilized to reflect the impact of contributing factors on each types of three injury levels.•Vehicle and train speeds greater than 50 mph increased the likelihood of being killed under both active and passive control.•Highway driver’s age, traffic volume, weather condition and visibility also work as important factors influencing driver injury severity at highway-rail crossings.

IntroductionBased on the Federal Railway Administration (FRA) database, approximately 62% of the collisions at highway-rail crossings occurred at locations with active controls (gate and flashing lights), followed by passive controls (cross bucks and stop signs) with approximately 28% of accidents.MethodThe study applied an ordered probit model to explore the determinants of driver injury severity under various control measures at highway-rail grade crossing in the United States.ResultsThe analysis found that schedule factor (peak hour), visibility, motor vehicle speed, train speed, driver’s age, area type, traffic volume and highway pavement impact driver injury severity at both active and passive highway-rail crossings.Practical ApplicationsFor both active and passive control highway-rail grade crossings, speed control for both trains and vehicles will significantly reduce driver injury severity. However, the level of influence by vehicle speed and train speed at passive control is higher compared with active control. Paving highways at highway-rail grade crossings will also help to reduce driver injury severity at highway-rail crossing accidents.