Safety in highway work zones has become a concern at the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) as the highway network has begun to age and more maintenance and construction work has been necessary. Researchers are looking at several mechanisms for improving safety in highway work zones. This study focuses on the goal of reducing speed in work zones. First, research on methods of speed reduction used by state DOTs throughout the country is identified and summarized. Next, the methodology and results of a field study that tests the efficacy of the Speed Monitoring Display (SMD) are described in detail, Finally, the results of a survey that was conducted to ascertain drivers' opinions of the SMD are presented. For the field study, three main conditions were analyzed: a no-treatment case, with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) signs and barriers; a treatment case using the SMD; and a treatment case using a police vehicle. In the no-treatment case, average vehicle speed was reduced about 3 mph as vehicles entered the work area of the work zone. With the SMD, average vehicle speed was reduced 7 mph. With the police vehicle, average vehicle speed was reduced about 9 mph. (These conclusions are valid at a 95% confidence level.) The results of the study suggest that the SMD is a promising option for state DOTs. (Author/publisher)
Abstract