Final year projects (Baccalaureus Theses) (Industrial Engineering)

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Browsing Final year projects (Baccalaureus Theses) (Industrial Engineering) by Author "Malan, Ilse"

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    Evaluating railway safety by observing the current condition of level crossings in the Western Cape
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12) Malan, Ilse; Visser, T.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Annually a number of fatal accidents occur at level crossings in South Africa. It is assumed that these kinds of accidents could be avoided if the road and rail systems and intersections are managed properly. This final year project evaluates railway safety by observing the current condition of level crossings in the Western Cape. The goal of this study is to identify contributing factors that increase the likelihood of an injury occurring in a collision between a vehicle and a train. Once the factors have been identified plans of action can be developed to strive to decrease level crossing collisions from occurring. This could save numerous lives and lots of money. The research problem at hand is to try and determine why this class of accidents occur and to indicate how management can be improved to reduce the number of incidents annually. Accident data was collected from the Western Cape area between the period 1999 and 2010. A correlation study was performed on the different contributing variables. Logistical regression was used with the occurrence of an injury set as dependent variable. Variables that influence the occurrence of an injury was identified as day of the week, time of the day, good visibility, type of road and type of vehicle. Stellenbosch’s biggest level crossing was evaluated against the South African Traffic Road Signs Manual (Brain, 1999). It was found that the level crossing met the standards that were set by the South African Department of Transport. Then a case study of one accident was done to determine the reason for the accident. Driver error was found to be the main cause of the accident. A survey study was done to determine whether people are making errors due to lack of knowledge. The study indicated that people do not know what to do at level crossings. Furthermore it was found that the South African driving test is out-dated and failing at educating drivers. The recommendation at hand is to restructure South Africa’s driver tests. A new more advanced test should be developed. Proper driver education is necessary to increase safety at level crossings. The interim solution would be to put up traffic lights at level crossings.