MnDOT is interested in learning about best practices for reporting and documenting vehicle intrusions into the work space of a work zone–specifically “near misses” that do not result in crashes. MnDOT would like to know what data other states collect about these intrusions and what technologies they use in gathering and reporting this data. To support this effort, CTC & Associates conducted a survey of state DOTs to learn their practices for work zone intrusion data collection. This survey was supplemented by follow-up interviews with survey respondents and a literature review that gathered information about work zone data collection practices. Collecting data about work zone intrusions does not appear to be a common practice. Those states that do collect intrusion data use electronic or paper forms (although smart work zone technologies such as pan-tilt-zoom cameras are being considered for implementation in Oregon), and staff said they are not particularly confident that their systems capture information about all work zone intrusions that occur. This Transportation Research Synthesis is divided into three sections: 1) Survey of State Practice; 2) Follow-up Interviews; and 3) Related Resources. An email survey was sent to the members of the AASHTO Subcommittee on Construction to gather information on states’ procedures for work zone intrusion data collection as well as the data collected. Of the 19 states that responded, only three collect work zone intrusion data: Iowa, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. All three collect this data via a form; Pennsylvania and Iowa use electronic fillable PDF forms (Iowa also allows paper form submissions), while North Dakota uses a paper form (but also permits verbal reporting). All three states collect incident data including description, location and date and time. At least one state also included the number of vehicles involved, incident diagrams, whether the site has an incident history, actions that resulted from the incident and weather conditions. According to the Oregon DOT respondent, ODOT plans to implement smart work zone technologies into construction projects in the near future, including pan-tilt-zoom cameras capable of capturing high-definition pictures and videos. However, the respondent did not know whether the cameras will be used for collecting data about work zone intrusions. Follow-up interviews with survey respondents suggested that work zone intrusion data collection is not a widespread practice, and that even those states that do collect this data may not capture every work zone intrusion that occurs. Respondents from the three states that collect work zone intrusion data agreed that a major challenge is the sense that collecting this data is cumbersome for field staff. This report did not examine private business, but the respondent from North Dakota DOT mentioned that in a previous position working for power company Duke Energy, the company successfully implemented an incentive program for reporting near misses. A literature search did not find any published research specifically related to work zone intrusion data collection. However, data collection in work zones, particularly when a crash is involved, is far more widespread. Additionally, the National Safety Council and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a fact sheet on near-miss reporting systems in 2013. While this fact sheet is aimed at general industry, it includes best practices for establishing near-miss reporting systems and encouraging employees to participate in them that may be suitable for adoption by transportation agencies. These best practices include ensuring that the system is non-punitive, working to establish a culture that acts upon opportunities to reduce risk and actively investigating near-miss incidents to identify and address the circumstances that led to them. (Author/publisher)
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