The purpose of this study was to examine traffic control for night work zones from the perspective of both transportation agencies and motorists. This was accomplished by investigating practices of state departments of transportation (DOTs), identifying the problems associated with traffic control for night work zones, and identifying potential strategies to resolve them. Reduced visibility, driver impairment or inattention, inadequate lighting, and difficulty maintaining traffic control devices are common problems identified with night work zones based on surveys of state DOTs and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) residencies. Having police officers present, making workers more visible, using drums in the taper, maintaining traffic control devices, and providing adequate lighting were common solutions. Based on the review of work zones, traffic control for night work zones is adequate in general. Common problem areas were properly establishing work zones based on the requirements of the "Virginia Work Area Protection Manual" (1996, VDOT), maintaining the traffic control devices, and properly aiming and aligning lighting to avoid glare. Although there is a perception that night work zones are less safe than daytime work zones, this perception could not be verified or discounted because of a lack of accurate traffic exposure data. Based on a limited amount of data, there was no evidence of higher speeds at night. Changes to the "Virginia Work Area Protection Manual" were recommended. (Author/publisher)
Abstract