driver's reminder appliance
{{Short description|UK railway safety system}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}}
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File:Drivers Reminder Appliance.jpg
A driver's reminder appliance (DRA) is a manual switch in the driving cab of a passenger train. When operated it glows bright red and prevents the driver from being able to apply power.[http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Rolling%20Stock/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GMRT2491%20Iss%202.pdf functional requirements] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506141820/http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Rolling%20Stock/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GMRT2491%20Iss%202.pdf |date=6 May 2012 }} at rgsonline.co.uk It was introduced in the design and operation of United Kingdom passenger trains in the 1990s[http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Control%20Command%20and%20Signalling/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GKRT0091%20Iss%201.pdf original requirements for DRA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506141929/http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Control%20Command%20and%20Signalling/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GKRT0091%20Iss%201.pdf |date=6 May 2012 }} at rgsonline.co.uk in response to a series of railway accidents where train drivers had passed a signal at danger when starting away from a station,http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/2001/crr01334.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606000655/http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/2001/crr01334.pdf |date=6 June 2023 }} accident investigations including evaluation of DRA a so-called "Start Against Signal".https://www.rssb.co.uk/about-rssb/key-industry-topics/spad-good-practice-guide/train-dispatch-and-preventing-start-against-signal-spads
Operation
Use of the DRA is mandatory[http://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERM8000-traindriver%20Iss%202.pdf Driver's Rulebook: Module TW1 - Section 10.1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925215824/http://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERM8000-traindriver%20Iss%202.pdf |date=25 September 2018 }} at Rail Safety and Standards Board for drivers of British passenger trains and they are required by the Drivers' Rule Book to set it:
- When closing down, entering or leaving the cab
- When the train is stopped at a red signal
- When the train is stopped after passing a signal displaying a single yellow (caution) aspect. The DRA serves as a reminder that the driver may be approaching a stop signal.
The DRA must only be reset:
Advantages
A passenger train driver can easily become distracted by station duties and forget that the next signal is at danger. This signal might be hidden from view until the train is close to it and there is insufficient braking distance. The DRA helps prevent this problem because resetting the DRA is the last action the driver will take before powering away from the station.{{cite web| title =Rulebook Master: Module TW1. Section 10.1 "Reset the DRA only when you have authority to start the train"| url =https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERM8000-master-module%20Iss%201.pdf| publisher =Network Rail| format =pdf| accessdate =2017-06-06| archive-date =14 September 2016| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160914022550/http://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERM8000-master-module%20Iss%201.pdf| url-status =dead}}
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717113350/http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Railway_Group_Standards/Rolling%20Stock/Railway%20Group%20Standards/GMRT2469%20Iss%201.pdf Railway Group Standards - 1997]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061108090740/http://halcrow.com/html/documents/pdf/australia/rm_management_spad_risk.pdf Halcrow report on SPADs and DRAs]
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