title: More than meets the eye: Using cognitive work analysis to identify design requirements for future rail level crossing systems.
abstract: An increasing intensity of operations means that the longstanding safety issue of rail level crossings is likely to become worse in the transport systems of the future. It has been suggested that the failure to prevent collisions may be, in part, due to a lack of systems thinking during design, crash analysis, and countermeasure development. This paper presents a systems analysis of current active rail level crossing systems in Victoria, Australia that was undertaken to identify design requirements to improve safety in future rail level crossing environments. Cognitive work analysis was used to analyse rail level crossing systems using data derived from a range of activities. Overall the analysis identified a range of instances where modification or redesign in line with systems thinking could potentially improve behaviour and safety. A notable finding is that there are opportunities for redesign outside of the physical rail level crossing infrastructure, including improved data systems, in-vehicle warnings and modifications to design processes, standards and guidelines. The implications for future rail level crossing systems are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research (USCAR), Faculty of Arts and Business, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia. Electronic address: psalmon@usc.edu.au.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.affiliation: Monash University Accident Research Centre, Building 70, Clayton Campus, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lenné
authors.affiliation: Monash University Accident Research Centre, Building 70, Clayton Campus, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Gemma J M
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Read
authors.affiliation: Monash University Accident Research Centre, Building 70, Clayton Campus, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mulvihill
authors.affiliation: Aviation, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
authors.forename: Guy H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Monash University Accident Research Centre, Building 70, Clayton Campus, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Kristie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: University of the Sunshine Coast Accident Research (USCAR), Faculty of Arts and Business, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO51 7JH, UK.
authors.forename: Neville A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Stanton
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology; D001519:Behavior; D001642:Bicycling / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D004779:Environment Design; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011890:Railroads; D012424:Rural Population; D012449:Safety; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D013597:Systems Analysis; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014505:Urban Population; D014739:Victoria; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive work analysis; Rail level crossings; Rail safety; Road safety; Systems analysis