Improving nighttime visibility and safety at passive railway level crossings: New designs incorporating photoluminescent markings and signs

Railway level crossings (RLXs) equipped with passive protective measures, particularly prevalent in rural and regional areas, pose substantial nighttime safety risks due to poor visibility associated with the absence of electrical infrastructure. This study investigates new passive level crossing designs incorporating photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) markings and signs to address visibility issues at nighttime. A virtual reality (VR) driving simulator experiment with 20 participants was conducted to evaluate 3 new designs: Photoluminescent markings over 150 m (PL150), 500 m (PL500), and 500 m combined with photoluminescent signs (PL500 + S) compared against a standard passive RLX. Results demonstrated that the PL500 + S design significantly reduced approach speeds and increased compliance, with speeds 7.6 to 9.9 km/h lower within 200 m of the crossing and stopping compliance 2.7 times higher compared to the standard passive design. The PL500 design showed modest improvements, whereas the PL150 design had negligible impact. Furthermore, participants perceived the photoluminescent designs as safer than the standard RLX in nighttime conditions. The results of this study highlight the combination of photoluminescent markings and signs as cost-effective interventions for regional RLXs lacking electrical infrastructure.