Explaining risk-taking at railway crossings: a QUT study into pedestrian behaviour

Do males take more risks around railway crossings? Are Gen Ys crossing the line just for a thrill? Are you more likely to ignore the rules if missing the train means a 15-minute wait?

Researcher Teodora Stefanova, from QUT’s Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), said these were some of the factors that had been shown to influence pedestrian behaviour around railway level crossings.

Stefanova said risk-taking around railway crossings had contributed to the 285 near misses reported across the Queensland Rail network last year between trains and pedestrians or motorists.

She said the fatal consequences and the related economic costs of such collisions highlighted the need for more research to better understand why pedestrians break the rules.

“We have an idea of what the main factors leading to risk-taking are, but what I’m looking to find out is how risk-taking is influenced by the specific environmental characteristics of pedestrian level crossings, and whether there is a relationship between the environment and the motivations to disobey the rules?” she said.

“For example, I want to know whether train timetables, the automatic warning controls and pedestrian awareness of railway crossing rules impact a person’s decision to disobey the warnings, risk it and run.”

Stefanova said a recent CARRS-Q study of 600 Queensland train users found that adults intentionally disobey the rules in order to avoid missing their train to work, while minors violate red lights seeking a thrill.

“There are around 90 active crossings, equipped with lights, closing gates and warning tones in and around south-east Queensland," she said.

“Some of the highest rates of rule-breaking and mistakes come from suburbs such as Wynnum, Coorparoo and Bethania.”

Stefanova is conducting a survey in partnership with Queensland Rail and the Cooperative Research Centre for Rail Innovation that aims to follow up on findings from the previous CARRS-Q study.

“Our aim is to collect more detailed data from a broad range and a large number of pedestrians from Queensland and, in particular, customers of Brisbane Citytrain network,” she said.

“Having a more in-depth understanding of pedestrians’ use of level crossings and of their awareness of the risks and safety procedures will contribute to improving the safety of daily level crossing users.”

The survey is open to Queenslanders over 16 years old, who usually use or have recently used railway level crossings.

To take part in the survey, visit http://survey.qut.edu.au/LevelX.