The safety of roadworks is compared at motorway sites and on all-purpose road sites. Data was collected by Halcrow Fox Associates for TRRL over a three and a half year period 1984-1987 for non-motorways and data from 1987 used for motorways. Three types of data were required - the physical layout of the roadworks, accident records before and during the roadworks and traffic flows with and without the roadworks. A detailed account is given of collection of data and theresults tabulated. Maps show the location of motorway sites chosen and the types of contraflow layouts studied are illustrated. 37 sites in Berkshire and 118 in Norfolk were chosen for studies on all-purpose roads. Accident rates are tabulated and comparisons made with and without roadworks. Roadworks are shown to increase accident rates. On motorways two-lane crossovers were most dangerous. In 1987 however motorways with roadworks were found to be still appreciably safer than all-purpose road without roadworks.
Abstract