title: Systems-based approach to investigate unsafe pedestrian behaviour at level crossings.
abstract: Crashes at level crossings are a major issue worldwide. In Australia, as well as in other countries, the number of crashes with vehicles has declined in the past years, while the number of crashes involving pedestrians seems to have remained unchanged. A systematic review of research related to pedestrian behaviour highlighted a number of important scientific gaps in current knowledge. The complexity of such intersections imposes particular constraints to the understanding of pedestrians' crossing behaviour. A new systems-based framework, called Pedestrian Unsafe Level Crossing framework (PULC) was developed. The PULC organises contributing factors to crossing behaviour on different system levels as per the hierarchical classification of Jens Rasmussen's Framework for Risk Management. In addition, the framework adapts James Reason's classification to distinguish between different types of unsafe behaviour. The framework was developed as a tool for collection of generalizable data that could be used to predict current or future system failures or to identify aspects of the system that require further safety improvement. To give it an initial support, the PULC was applied to the analysis of qualitative data from focus groups discussions. A total number of 12 pedestrians who regularly crossed the same level crossing were asked about their daily experience and their observations of others' behaviour which allowed the extraction and classification of factors associated with errors and violations. Two case studies using Rasmussen's AcciMap technique are presented as an example of potential application of the framework. A discussion on the identified multiple risk contributing factors and their interactions is provided, in light of the benefits of applying a systems approach to the understanding of the origins of individual's behaviour. Potential actions towards safety improvement are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia; IFSTTAR Versailles - Satory, 25 Allée des Marronniers F-78000 Versailles, France. Electronic address: t.stefanova@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Teodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stefanova
authors.affiliation: IFSTTAR Versailles - Satory, 25 Allée des Marronniers F-78000 Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filtness
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wullems
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Andry
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rakotonirainy
authors.affiliation: IFSTTAR Versailles - Satory, 25 Allée des Marronniers F-78000 Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delhomme
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069636:Pedestrians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011793:Queensland; D011890:Railroads; D012308:Risk Management; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety; D013598:Systems Theory; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AcciMaps; Errors; Level crossing; PULC framework; Pedestrian crossing; Violations