Rail Crossings- IVWS vs Roadside Signals: Why LSM TrainSense® Delivers the Highest Safety ROI

Thirty years of research and field trials point to a clear conclusion - bringing the warning into the driver cabin- is the most direct way to reduce human‑factor risk at rail level crossings. LSM TrainSense®, an In‑Vehicle Warning System (IVWS), delivers selective audio / visual alerts to the driver- independent of visibility- and can interface with modern ADAS / AEB, so a missed alert can trigger vehicle intervention control.

The attached technical paper- "(IVWS) In- Vehicle Warning Systems / Conventional / (RASX) Remote Active Signage Systems - Cost, Effectiveness and Implementation Analysis" discusses and compares various mitigation controls for Railway Crossings.

Cost & ROI (LSM Modelling / Estimates): For nationwide coverage, IVWS is the lowest‑cost path by an order of magnitude over 10- 20 years (≈ A$1.36b total) versus RASX ≈ A$5.5–7.75 b and Conventional ≈ A$16- 18b for a similar scale of protection.

On a “cost per collision avoided” basis, IVWS remains ~4 × more cost‑efficient than RASX in a like‑ for ‑like (100% prevention)- see ROI models.

At national scale, converting ~18,400 passive crossings to RASX is ~AU$4.6-5.5 b in capex plus ~AU$78- 92 m / year in maintenance. By contrast, TrainSense® is vehicle‑based and with an estimated ~$100 per retrofit unit, near‑zero routine maintenance, and protection wherever the vehicle travels, delivers more safety coverage, sooner, for far less public spend.

Effectiveness Where It Matters Most: Collisions at passive crossings are dominated by human factors- distraction, fatigue, habituation, poor visibility. Roadside‑ only cues can be missed. TrainSense® positions a high‑salience, selective alert inside the cab, improving detection and response when driver is fatigued or conditions are poor. Where fitted, ADAS / AEB can assist braking if a warning is ignored or missed, supporting the highest practicable level of mitigation.

Rollout Reality: Site‑by‑site civil works constrain the pace of Conventional and RASX programs and draw on scarce signalling resources. TrainSense® is designed for rapid scaleing ~1 hour / vehicle installs by standard automotive technicians, progressive OEM integration via an ADR pathway, and minimal disruption to road or rail.

Put simply, a fleet‑ centric approach accelerates national risk reduction by years compared with infrastructure‑ only rollouts. IVWS can scale fastest, enabling national fleet coverage in 1–2 years. RASX is site‑bound (4– 6 crew for several days), so a full passive‑ network build‑ out is a 9–18‑year task even with many crews in parallel.

Effectiveness & Human Factors: IVWS directly mitigates distraction, fatigue, habituation and adds optional driver‑ intervention control (speed‑ reduction / AEB linkage), is inside the cabin - benefits that roadside signs cannot deliver. Peer studies and the "ATSB’s 2024 Review of level crossing collisions involving trains and heavy road vehicles report"  in Australia - supports the case for IVWS warnings, particularly for heavy vehicles (over‑represented and more severe outcomes).

The Result: more safety, sooner, for more people- and the strongest safety return on investment per public dollar.

LSM Technologies has been actively engaging for >24 months with government agencies, regulators, road and rail mangers and freight industry stakeholders to develop and trial our:

• LSM TrainSense®- to reduce collisions at rail level crossings.
• LSM BridgeSense®- to prevent over - height vehicle impacts.

Given the substantial investment, regulatory control, and ownership that the Australian Government holds over the nation's rail and road networks, it is both logical and necessary that public funding be allocated towards critical safety innovations.