Work Zone Crashes Involving Traffic Control Devices, Safety Features, and Work Vehicles and Equipment

Examinations were made of 461 work zone crashes involving Category 3 and Category 4 work zone safety features, portable traffic signs, and work vehicles and equipment. Category 3 devices include crash attenuators and temporary traffic barriers. Category 4 devices include trailer-mounted arrow panels, changeable message signs, and light towers. Crash data reported here, compiled from recent New York State Department of Transportation construction projects, show that portable signs and Category 4 devices are involved in a small number of crashes and rarely result in injuries to vehicle occupants or workers. The use of traffic barriers or attenuators to reduce crash frequency and severity involving these devices is not indicated, because severity rates on temporary barriers and work zone attenuators are higher than on the devices they would be used to protect. Both work zone attenuators and temporary barriers were involved in a substantial number of crashes and injuries. These crashes emphasize the importance of deploying the devices according to accepted work zone practices and limiting their use to situations in which they are warranted to protect more serious hazards. Worker injuries reported in a number of these crashes emphasize the importance of safe work practices such as restraint use by vehicle occupants, even at slow speeds in work zones, and effective separation of workers from traffic in work zones.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2015-08
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Work+Zone+Crashes+Involving+Traffic+Control+Devices%2c+Safety+Features%2c+and+Work+Vehicles+and+Equipment&author=J.+Bryden&publication_year=2007
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Public/Blurbs/159609.aspx
• Authors:
  • Bryden, James E
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 64-70
• Monograph Title: Maintenance Operations: Work Zones, Pavement Markings, and Weather
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2015
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash cushions; Crash injuries; Crash severity; Crashes; Lighting equipment; Portable equipment; Safety equipment; Temporary barriers; Traffic control devices; Variable message signs; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control; Work zones
• Uncontrolled Terms: Arrow panel displays; Construction vehicles; Maintenance vehicles; Portable traffic signs; Temporary traffic control devices
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I60: Maintenance; I73: Traffic Control; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01045009
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309104418
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 8 2007 5:32PM