GLXS 2016, Helsinki, 12-15 June, 2016

Human risk factors in fatal motor vehicle accidents at passive and active railway level crossings

Sirkku Laapotti, PsD Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

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Aims of the study Ø  To describe human risk factors in fatal motor vehicle accidents at railway level crossings Ø  To compare accidents at passive and at active railway level crossings

Number  of  active  level  crossings   in  Finland  in  2015:   693  (24  %  of  all  level  crossings)

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Number  of  passive  level  crossings  in   Finland  in  2015:   2  185  (76  %  of  all  level  crossings)

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Ø  Data: Fatal motor vehicle accidents studied by the Accident Investigation Teams in Finland during the years 1991-2013.

Number of cases

%

Accidents at passive level crossings

109

78

Accidents at active level crossings

29

22

Total

138

100

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

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Traffic Accident Investigation Teams in Finland Ø  investigate all fatal motor vehicle accidents in detail Ø  law based activity since 2001, organised by the Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre Ø  the teams are multi-professional and consist of traffic safety engineer, a police officer, a car inspection engineer, a medical expert and a psychologist. Ø  each member makes his/her own investigations concerning the accident and in a joint meeting the team produces the final statement for the accident. Ø  the final statement includes the conclusion as to the course of the accident and its probable causes, and suggests means to prevent similar accidents in the future. Ø  the contents of the accident information register is available for researchers S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

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Risk factors of the accidents 1. The immediate risk factor (one) - human, vehicle or environment 2. The background risk factors (several) - human: e.g. inexperience, alcohol, hurry, distraction… - vehicle: e.g. bad tyres, dirty windscreen, dead space… - environment: too short sight distance, bad weather conditions… - system: e.g. driver training, standards and regulations of road or railroad management, enforcement or punishments… 3. Risk factors connected to consequences of the accidents - e.g. seatbelts were not used, the vehicle was old and did not protect the driver and/or passengers enough S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

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Drivers’ age and sex in fatal level crossing accidents Mean age of the drivers was 45 years (range 13 – 90 years)

%  

100   90   80   70   60   50   40   30   20   10   0  

Male  

Passive  level  crossings   S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

Female  

Ac9ve  level  crossings  

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Immediate risk factor of an accident Observation error

100

Anticipation or evaluation error

90

%

Vehicle handling error

80

Other human risk factors

70

Vehicle risk factors

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Passive level crossings

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

Active level crossings

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Observation error: the driver failed to see the approaching train early enough Environmental factors behind the observation error: Ø  Insufficient visibility from road to the railway in relation to the speed limit of the road (37 % of all accidents at passive level crossings compared 7 % at active level crossings) Ø  Speed of the train (typically 120-140 km/h) Ø  Speed of the motor vehicle, e.g. the driver failed to stop before the crossing Ø  Road goes uphill towards the level crossing (in 74 % of accidents at passive level crossings compared 21 % at active level crossings) Ø  Drivers were blinded by the sun (failed to see the warning lights at active level crossings)

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

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Speed limit on the road   100 90 80

≤ 40 km/h

50-60 km/h

80 km/h

70 % 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Passive level crossings Active level crossings

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

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Speed limit on the railway 100 90

≤ 70 km/h

80 km/h

100-110 km/h

120-140 km/h

80 70 %  

60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Passive level crossings

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

Active level crossings

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Alcohol

BAC ≥ 0,2 per mille 50 40 % 30 20 10 0 Passive level crossings

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

Active level crossings

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Speeding 50 45 40 35 %

30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Passive level crossings

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

Active level crossings

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No valid drivers' licence 50 45 40 35 % 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Passive level crossings

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

Active level crossings

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Suicide 50 45 40 35 % 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Passive level crossings

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

Active level crossings

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Conclusions Ø  Most of the accidents took place at passive level crossings Ø  Risk taking behaviour in fatal level crossing accidents is rare compared to fatal motor vehicle accidents generally Ø  Accidents at passive level crossings are to a higher degree “pure” accidents compared to accidents at active level crossings. The latter include more often elements of risk taking or suicidal intent. Ø  Environmental risk factors (other than the lack of warning device) are more typical in accidents at passive level crossings than in accidents at active level crossings Ø  To cross a passive level crossing safely is a difficult task. Environment should help the drivers in safe crossing but now it makes the task even more difficult (short sight distance, high speeds of the train, uphill Ø  Final target should be to remove dangerous passive level crossings or to equip them with warning devices (conventional systems or low-cost devices)

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More information found in: Ø  the theme investigation Safety Study on level crossing accidents (S1/2011, Safety Investigation Authority, Finland) http://www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi/en/index/tutkintaselostukset/ raideliikenneonnettomuuksientutkinta/raideliikenneteematutkinnat.html Ø  Comparison of fatal motor vehicle accidents at passive and active railway level crossings in Finland (IATSS-Research, 2015)

S. Laapotti, Research and Training Humaani Ltd, Turku, Finland

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Thank you for your attention! [email protected]

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