Impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers

The objective of this study was to develop and measure the effects of effective level crossing warning signs that raise the temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers ahead of level crossings. For this objective, first, four types of signs were designed based on accident analysis and psychological e...

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Main Authors: Mayuko UEDA, Kazushige WADA, Shinnosuke USUI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers 2024-09-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/18/5/18_2024jamdsm0067/_pdf/-char/en
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author Mayuko UEDA
Kazushige WADA
Shinnosuke USUI
author_facet Mayuko UEDA
Kazushige WADA
Shinnosuke USUI
author_sort Mayuko UEDA
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study was to develop and measure the effects of effective level crossing warning signs that raise the temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers ahead of level crossings. For this objective, first, four types of signs were designed based on accident analysis and psychological expertise. The experiment participants drove automobiles on driving simulators and repeatedly crossed the level crossings where one of the four designed signs were placed (or alternatively where no sign had been placed), and the temporary stop ratio ahead of level crossings was measured. Later, they were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding their impressions (three categories of assessment: risk perception, attitude toward safety, and motivation for implementation) of the four types of signs. The experiment revealed that a sign of “gratitude” showing the message “Thank you for stopping” had a significantly higher temporary stop ratio in comparison to the other signs or to no sign during the condition in which a train is not passing along the tracks. Assessments of participants’ impressions of the “gratitude” sign indicated that, while risk perception was significantly lower than with other signs, the motivation to implement specific safety actions ahead of level crossings was significantly higher. It may be that the desire to implement safety behavior increases due to the norm of reciprocity as a result of showing courtesy to the experiment participants through an expression of gratitude, which results in an increase in the temporary stop ratio.
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publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
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series Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing
spelling doaj-art-1db5ed8676c94078a0e5aa8faf15df0e2025-08-20T02:09:38ZengThe Japan Society of Mechanical EngineersJournal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing1881-30542024-09-01185JAMDSM0067JAMDSM006710.1299/jamdsm.2024jamdsm0067jamdsmImpact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile driversMayuko UEDA0Kazushige WADA1Shinnosuke USUI2Faculty of Management, Otemon Gakuin UniversitySafety Research Institute, West Japan Railway CompanySafety Research Institute, West Japan Railway CompanyThe objective of this study was to develop and measure the effects of effective level crossing warning signs that raise the temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers ahead of level crossings. For this objective, first, four types of signs were designed based on accident analysis and psychological expertise. The experiment participants drove automobiles on driving simulators and repeatedly crossed the level crossings where one of the four designed signs were placed (or alternatively where no sign had been placed), and the temporary stop ratio ahead of level crossings was measured. Later, they were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding their impressions (three categories of assessment: risk perception, attitude toward safety, and motivation for implementation) of the four types of signs. The experiment revealed that a sign of “gratitude” showing the message “Thank you for stopping” had a significantly higher temporary stop ratio in comparison to the other signs or to no sign during the condition in which a train is not passing along the tracks. Assessments of participants’ impressions of the “gratitude” sign indicated that, while risk perception was significantly lower than with other signs, the motivation to implement specific safety actions ahead of level crossings was significantly higher. It may be that the desire to implement safety behavior increases due to the norm of reciprocity as a result of showing courtesy to the experiment participants through an expression of gratitude, which results in an increase in the temporary stop ratio.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/18/5/18_2024jamdsm0067/_pdf/-char/enrailway level crossingswarning signsdriving simulatorgratitudeautomobile driverrisk takingsafetypassive rail level crossings
spellingShingle Mayuko UEDA
Kazushige WADA
Shinnosuke USUI
Impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers
Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing
railway level crossings
warning signs
driving simulator
gratitude
automobile driver
risk taking
safety
passive rail level crossings
title Impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers
title_full Impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers
title_fullStr Impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers
title_full_unstemmed Impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers
title_short Impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers
title_sort impact of level crossing sign messages on temporary stop ratio of automobile drivers
topic railway level crossings
warning signs
driving simulator
gratitude
automobile driver
risk taking
safety
passive rail level crossings
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/18/5/18_2024jamdsm0067/_pdf/-char/en
work_keys_str_mv AT mayukoueda impactoflevelcrossingsignmessagesontemporarystopratioofautomobiledrivers
AT kazushigewada impactoflevelcrossingsignmessagesontemporarystopratioofautomobiledrivers
AT shinnosukeusui impactoflevelcrossingsignmessagesontemporarystopratioofautomobiledrivers