CONTEST FOR HIGHWAY WORKER SAFETY

The National Research Council (NRC) has announced the winners of its competition designed to gather innovative ideas for better protection of highway maintenance workers from dangerous traffic. The NRC's Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) sponsored the program. Out of 126 competition entries, three $2,000 prizes, four $1,000 prizes, and thirty $500 prizes were awarded. The top three winning designs included: a special lighting system to be used on the back of snowplows and salt spreaders that allows drivers to see snow equipment more clearly in stormy weather; a sign that can be quickly and easily installed and moved alerting motorists of construction ahead; and an mobile crash-protection device using sand barrels that can be installed quickly for closing off an entire lane of traffic. The entries were rated on feasibility, usability, effectiveness, and cost. The most promising will be selected for prototype development and testing. Further descriptions of the top three winning designs are provided in this article, and other winning devices are briefly mentioned. Also included are two inserts showing work zone fatality statistics and average stopping distances from 55 mph for passenger cars and tractor-trailers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0884612X
• Corporate Authors:

  TranSafety, Incorporated

  8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Suite B-101
  Springfield, VA  United States  22152
• Authors:
  • Anderson, R W G
• Publication Date: 1989-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 4-5
• Serial:
  • TRANSAFETY REPORTER
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: TranSafety, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0884-612X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Awards; Construction sites; Fatalities; Highway maintenance; Innovation; Safety; Stopping distances; Tractor trailer combinations; Work area
• Identifier Terms: Strategic Highway Research Program
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00486180
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1989 12:00AM