Texas has more highway construction work zone fatalities and injuries than any other state. This is due in part to Texas's lengthy construction season and its large number of construction projects. A new way of alerting drivers to the presence of a construction zone utilizes a series of synchronized flashing lights attached to the drums that form a lane closure taper. These lights illuminate a sequence from the beginning to the end of the taper. The lights, which are in place in a number of construction zones in the Houston area, have proven to be effective. Another important element in construction zone safety is the portable changeable message sign. In a study sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Institute of Transportation developed a way to determine how well boards can be seen by motorists. TTI researchers developed a set of guidelines for minimum illumination, or brightness, for daytime and nighttime driving.
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