As the U.S. population and economy continue to grow, more pressure is being placed on the nation’s road and bridge infrastructure today than at any point in history. This growth has left the nation’s system of roads and bridges in a perpetual state of repair. As all motorists are aware, road maintenance and construction projects often cause significant traffic congestion, as well as contribute to an increasing number of accidents and fatalities. Work zone-related crashes that involve large trucks are often more serious and more likely to result in fatalities. In order to mitigate the consequences of large truck crashes in work zones, research is needed to understand the underlying causes of truck-involved work zone crashes and from those findings develop appropriate countermeasures to reduce their frequency and severity. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) initiated this research to investigate the factors that contribute to truck-involved work zone accidents. The objective of the research is to identify and analyze critical information on the extent of truck-involved work zone crashes, both nationally and in those states where such data exists. Based on that data, ATRI analyzed work zone designs and other issues that may increase work zone safety. ATRI convened top work zone experts from around the country for participation on the Project Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee – comprised of representatives from state DOTs, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AAHSTO), Texas Transportation Institute, and the Commercial Safety Vehicle Alliance (CVSA) – examined research data and findings and made recommendations for improving work zone safety. (Author/publisher)
Abstract