Evaluation of a Safety System Using Its Technologies for Streetcar Stops Without Safety Barriers

  • Takashi Omatsu
  • Nobuaki Ohmori
  • Shuichi Matsumoto
  • Kenji Okamura
  • Yasuhiko Kumagai
  • Noboru  Harata
Article
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Abstract

Streetcar stops in some Japanese cities lack safety barriers, which has led to fatal accidents. As a result, urgent safety measures are required. This study evaluates a safety system using ITS technologies for streetcar stops without safety barriers in Kochi. We conducted a questionnaire survey of car drivers and streetcar users. The safety system made car drivers pay more attention to streetcar users and decreased the level of anxiety among streetcar users. To avoid conflicts between cars and streetcar users at the streetcar stops, boarding and alighting from right-side doors with a self-service fare collection system was also investigated.

Keywords

Streetcar stops without safety barriers Safety measures using ITS technologies 

Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Tosa National Highway Office, Kochi Prefectural Office, and Tosa Electric Railway co. ltd. This work was supported in part by a grant from the practical ITS research committee of Japan Society of Civil Engineers.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Takashi Omatsu
    • 1
  • Nobuaki Ohmori
    • 2
  • Shuichi Matsumoto
    • 3
  • Kenji Okamura
    • 4
  • Yasuhiko Kumagai
    • 4
  • Noboru  Harata
    • 2
  1. 1.All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.TokyoJapan
  2. 2.Department of Urban EngineeringThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
  3. 3.Keio Advanced Research Centers, Keio UniversityYokohama-shiJapan
  4. 4.Regional ITS Research LaboratoryKochi University of TechnologyKochiJapan

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