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            Acoustical Warning Devices as Emergency Warning Systems, Phase 1
      

      
  Document Series
              Technical Reports


      
  Author
          Federal Railroad Administration


      
Report Number
              DOT/FRA/ORD-19/40

  Office
              RDI-23


      Subject
                    Emergency Notification Systems,
                    Grade Crossing Technology


      
  Keywords
              Emergency warning, train horn, trespassers, music masking sounds, reaction time, acoustic warning device


      

      
      
              
                  
      
              
  Document
              AWD Phase 1 updated.pdf (6.68 MB)

      
              This program demonstrated the effectiveness of Acoustical Warning Devices (AWD) as secondary Emergency Warning Signals (EWS). The focus is to warn trespassers of an approaching train, through the development of an emergency warning signals that produce a sense of urgency, are noticeable to trespassers wearing headphones, and uniquely identifiable as train warning signals. Several EWS sounds were developed and evaluated in surveys to assess the participant’s view of the sense of urgency and detectability. Sounds characteristics were identified that enhance detectability.

See Also:

Acoustical Warning Devices as Emergency Warning Signals, Phase 2
	Acoustical Warning Devices as Emergency Warning Signals, Phase 3
      
            
      
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              Last updated: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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