scholarly journals Influence of Remotely Operated Stop–Slow Controls on Driver Behavior in Work Zones

2017 ◽  
Vol 2615 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashim Kumar Debnath ◽  
Ross Blackman ◽  
Narelle Haworth ◽  
Yusuf Adinegoro
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Traffic Lights ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Driver Understanding ◽  
Rural Work

Remotely operated devices for traffic control—portable traffic lights and automated flagger assistance devices—are used to improve flagger safety in a one-lane-each-way work zone with lane closure. Previous research has measured the effectiveness of these devices as driver compliance rates and driver understanding of the devices, but the effects of these devices on driver behavior have not yet been examined comprehensively. Therefore, the influence of remotely operated stop–slow traffic control devices on driver behavior was examined. Video-recorded traffic movements from a rural work zone in the Queensland state of Australia provided driver speeds, deceleration profiles, stopping behavior, and compliance rates for a set of remotely operated devices new to Australia: static red–amber–green lights, static red–amber lights, static red–amber arrow lights, and mechanical stop–slow signs. Pneumatic tube traffic counters were used to collect driver speeds before and after the devices, and an on-road driver survey was conducted to elicit driver understanding of the devices. Results indicated that drivers had difficulty understanding the new devices, particularly the amber light and amber arrow options (which confused drivers about their meaning—to stop or to go). The new remotely operated devices resulted in higher approach speeds, greater variability in approach speeds, and faster deceleration rates than the flagger method. The good compliance rates observed with the remotely operated devices imply that the devices could improve flagger safety by reducing flagger exposure to traffic; however, the negative effects on driver behavior might indicate an increased risk of rear-end crashes in the advance warning area.

scholarly journals Risk Factors in Work Zone Safety Events: A Naturalistic Driving Study Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (1) ◽  
pp. 379-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nipjyoti Bharadwaj ◽  
Praveen Edara ◽  
Carlos Sun
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Work Zone Safety ◽  
Naturalistic Driving Study ◽  
Naturalistic Driving ◽  
The Impact

Identification of crash risk factors and enhancing safety at work zones is a major priority for transportation agencies. There is a critical need for collecting comprehensive data related to work zone safety. The naturalistic driving study (NDS) data offers a rare opportunity for a first-hand view of crashes and near-crashes (CNC) that occur in and around work zones. NDS includes information related to driver behavior and various non-driving related tasks performed while driving. Thus, the impact of driver behavior on crash risk along with infrastructure and traffic variables can be assessed. This study: (1) investigated risk factors associated with safety critical events occurring in a work zone; (2) developed a binary logistic regression model to estimate crash risk in work zones; and (3) quantified risk for different factors using matched case-control design and odds ratios (OR). The predictive ability of the model was evaluated by developing receiver operating characteristic curves for training and validation datasets. The results indicate that performing a non-driving related secondary task for more than 6 seconds increases the CNC risk by 5.46 times. Driver inattention was found to be the most critical behavioral factor contributing to CNC risk with an odds ratio of 29.06. In addition, traffic conditions corresponding to Level of Service (LOS) D exhibited the highest level of CNC risk in work zones. This study represents one of the first efforts to closely examine work zone events in the Transportation Research Board’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) NDS data to better understand factors contributing to increased crash risk in work zones.

Driver Behavior in Response to Flashing Lights

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Kersavage ◽  
Nicholas P. Skinner ◽  
John D. Bullough ◽  
Philip M. Garvey ◽  
Eric T. Donnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Sequential Pattern ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Lane Change ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
The Road ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right ◽  
Warning Lights ◽  
Current Standards

Flashing yellow warning lights notify drivers about the presence of work along the road. Current standards for these lights address performance of the individual light but not how lights should function when multiple lights are used. In the present study, warning lights were used to delineate a lane change taper in a simulated work zone. Lights flashed with varying intensities and either randomly or in sequence, with lights flashing in turn along the length of the lane change taper, either to the right or to the left. In half of the trials, a flashing police light bar was used on a vehicle located within the simulated work zone. Participants were asked to drive a vehicle approaching the work zone and to identify, as quickly as possible, in which direction the taper’s lane change was (either to the right or left). Drivers were able to correctly identify the taper from farther away when the lights flashed in a sequential pattern than when the flash pattern was random; and the presence of a police light bar resulted in shorter identification distances. The results, along with previous research, can inform standards for the use of flashing lights and police lights in work zones for the safety of drivers and workers.

Field Evaluation of Late Merge Traffic Control in Work Zones

2005 ◽  
Vol 1911 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Beacher ◽  
Michael D. Fontaine ◽  
Nicholas J. Garber
Keyword(s):  
Field Test ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Field ◽  
Lane Closures

The traffic control strategy of the late merge in work zones was devised to improve flow and safety at work zone lane closures. Although some states have put the strategy into practice, only a handful of short-term field studies have formally evaluated its effectiveness. Additional field studies were necessary to assess the efficacy of the strategy and its proper deployment. This paper documents the results of a field test of the late merge traffic control conducted over several months. The late merge strategy was evaluated by comparing its effectiveness with that of traditional plans for work zone lane closures. The field test was conducted on a primary route in Tappahannock, Virginia, at a two-to-one lane closure. Results showed that throughput increased, but the increase was not statistically significant. Likewise, time in queue decreased, but the decrease was not statistically significant. These results were much less dramatic than those of other studies. Possible reasons for this disparity include different driver populations, road types, vehicle mixes, and site-specific characteristics. Despite limited improvements in throughput and time in queue, more drivers were in the closed lane, a positive response to the late merge signs.

Crash Testing and Evaluation of Work Zone Traffic Control Devices

1998 ◽  
Vol 1650 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
King K. Mak ◽  
Roger P. Bligh ◽  
Lewis R. Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Crash Testing ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
The Impact

Safety of work zones is a major area of concern since it is not always possible to maintain a level of safety comparable to that of a normal highway not under construction. Proper traffic control is critical to the safety of work zones. However, traffic control devices themselves may pose a safety hazard when impacted by errant vehicles. The impact performance of many work zone traffic control devices is mostly unknown, and little, if any, crash testing has been conducted in accordance with guidelines set forth in NCHRP Report 350. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has, in recent years, sponsored a number of studies at the Texas Transportation Institute to assess the impact performance of various work zone traffic control devices, including plastic drums and sign substrates, temporary and portable sign supports, plastic cones, vertical panels, and barricades. The results, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are presented for temporary and portable sign supports, plastic drums, sign substrates for use with plastic drums, traffic cones, and vertical panels, whereas those for barricades are covered elsewhere. Most of the work zone traffic control devices satisfactorily met the evaluation criteria set forth in NCHRP Report 350 and are recommended for field implementation. However, some of the devices failed to perform satisfactorily and are not recommended for field applications. The results from these studies are being incorporated into the TxDOT barricade and construction standard sheets for use in work zones.

Guidelines for Using Late Merge Traffic Control in Work Zones

2005 ◽  
Vol 1911 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Beacher ◽  
Michael D. Fontaine ◽  
Nicholas J. Garber
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategy ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Storage Space ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Microscopic Traffic Simulation ◽  
Traffic Stream ◽  
Flow At Work ◽  
Full Factorial

The late merge traffic control strategy has been proposed as a way to improve flow at work zone lane closures by maximizing queue storage space and creating more orderly merging. The late merge instructs drivers to use all lanes to the work zone taper and then take turns proceeding through the work zone. There is little information available on when the late merge should be used, however, and a limited understanding of the factors that influence its performance. This paper discusses the results of a simulation study of the late merge concept using microscopic traffic simulation. The late merge concept was evaluated by comparing it with traditional traffic control, through a full factorial analysis. Results of the computer simulations showed that the late merge produced a statistically significant increase in throughput volume versus the traditional merge for the three-to-one lane closure configuration across all combinations of analysis factors. Although the two-to-one and three-to-two configurations did not show significant improvement in throughput overall, it was found that as the percentage of heavy vehicles increased, the late merge did foster higher throughput volumes than traditional traffic control. The results of the simulations indicate that the late merge may not provide as much of a benefit as previous studies had indicated and that the area of application for the late merge may be limited to situations where heavy vehicles constitute more than 20% of the traffic stream.

Effect of the Work Zone Double-Fine Law in Texas

2000 ◽  
Vol 1715 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald L. Ullman ◽  
Paul J. Carlson ◽  
Nada D. Trout
Keyword(s):  
Public Safety ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Citation Data ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Law ◽  
External Reasons

Results of research conducted to investigate the short-term effects of the double-fine law in work zones implemented in Texas on January 1, 1998, are presented. Field studies of traffic speeds in several work zones were performed before and after the law was implemented. Traffic citation data for these same work zones were also obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Analyses showed that traffic speeds in the work zones 4 to 6 months after the law was enacted were essentially unchanged from before the law was enacted. Similarly, citation frequency and fines levied were not significantly higher than they were before enactment of the law. The data suggested that a higher proportion of drivers who were issued citations after the law was implemented chose to take defensive driving training and to have the ticket subsequently dismissed. However, researchers could not determine whether this was due to the increased fine or to other external reasons.

Diversion from a Rural Work Zone with Traffic-Responsive Variable Message Signage System

2003 ◽  
Vol 1824 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan J. Horowitz ◽  
Ian Weisser ◽  
Thomas Notbohm
Keyword(s):  
Work Zone ◽  
Route Selection ◽  
Alternative Route ◽  
Peak Period ◽  
Freeway Traffic ◽  
Arterial Streets ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Signage System ◽  
Rural Work ◽  
Message Signs

An experiment was made to determine the degree of alternative-route selection from a rural freeway that occurs because of implementation of a traffic-responsive variable message signage system in a work zone. The message signs gave real-time estimates of travel time to the end of the work zone. Alternative-route selection was measured through extensive volume counts on the freeway and on parallel arterial streets, both before and after implementation of the signage system. In addition, traffic volumes were measured at a variety of locations where alternativeroute selection was likely to occur and where it was unlikely to occur. Analysis of peak period data found that alternative-route selection rates were between 7% and 10% of the freeway traffic, depending on the location and the day of the week.

scholarly journals Crash Testing and Analysis of Work-Zone Sign Supports

2002 ◽  
Vol 1797 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla A. Polivka ◽  
Ronald K. Faller ◽  
John R. Rohde ◽  
Dean L. Sicking
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Crash Testing ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fundamental Design

A variety of traffic-controlling devices are used in work zones; some of these are not normally found on the roadside or in the traveled way outside of the work zones. These devices are used to enhance the safety of the work zones by controlling the traffic through these areas. Because of the placement of the traffic control devices, the devices themselves may be potentially hazardous to both workers and errant vehicles. The impact performance of many work-zone traffic control devices is mainly unknown, and to date limited crash testing has been conducted under the criteria of NCHRP Report 350: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features. The results of full-scale crash testing of flexible panel work-zone sign stands were evaluated and analyzed to quantify the features that successful devices shared, as well as common features of those devices that failed salient safety criteria. Parameters considered included sign base and upright properties, sign height, cross-member properties, and ancillary details. Results pointed to three problematic, fundamental design issues: ( a) combinations of base and upright stiffness and strength that generally lead to significant windshield damage, ( b) cross members that lead to windshield damage in the end-on (90°) impact orientation, and ( c) appurtenances that have an impact on performance. Although there are a significant number of variables that control the performance of a given device, these generalizations offer a basis for the evaluation of the fundamental design elements.

An Assessment of Safety Culture While Navigating Work Zones

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1499-1503
Author(s):  
Jacob D. Achtemeier ◽  
Nichole L. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Safety Culture ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Roadway Safety ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Vehicle Technologies ◽  
Willingness To Use

A survey was administered to evaluate a variety of driver opinions, behaviors, and technology use in the context of work zones. Safety culture thematic inquiries, such as willingness to use a cell phone while driving, as well as adherence and trust of conventional work zone signage were included in the driver behavior inventory. Thematic results were examined through a factor analyses, providing insight into the relationship among responses to survey items. Study results contribute to the understanding of driver attitudes towards conventional signage in work zones, driver perceptions of their and others’ safety, and the degree to which drivers are receptive to new in-vehicle technologies to supplement signage. Driver attitudes and reported interactions with phones while driving is discussed. The study explores the safety and acceptance potential of an in-vehicle, smartphone-based, work zone messaging system on driver behavior and roadway safety.

scholarly journals Control Strategy Optimization for Two-Lane Highway Lane-Closure Work Zones

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua ◽  
Wang ◽  
Yu ◽  
Zhu ◽  
Wang
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategy ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Queue Length ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
Delay Model ◽  
Work Zones ◽  
Two Phase

Traffic control is very important for two-lane highway lane-closure work zone traffic management. Control of the open lane’s right of way is very similar to that of a two-phase signalized intersection. Thus, four control strategies including flagger control, pre-timed control proposed by Schonfeld, pre-timed control proposed by Webster, and actuated control are employed for possible use at work zones. Two primary methodologies, the mathematical delay model adopted from signalized intersections, and the simulation model calibrated with field data, are proposed. The simulation and mathematical results show that control strategies for two one-way road intersections could be used for two-lane highway lane-closure work zones. Flagger control after gap-out distance optimization prevails over all the other control strategies in terms of stopped delay, queue length, and throughput, under low or high volumes. Actuated control could be a good alternative for work zone areas due to its small queue length and large vehicle throughput under moderate volume conditions. Our findings may help to optimize the work-zone control strategy and improve operational efficiency at two-lane highway lane-closure work zones.

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