The growth in traffic, and thus the increasing pressure on roads, demand continuous maintenance and road works in order to keep the high standards of today's roads. Most road works have to be conducted during traffic hours, in the presence of pedestrians and vehicles. This results in increased accident risks and a number of disadvantages for road users and workers. Road workers are thus an especially vulnerable group, due to their work being carried out in immediate proximity of the traffic. The primary objective of this study is to review existing literature concerning traffic safety in work zones. Literature searches were made on both international literature databases and the Internet to cover as broad a range possible, and to include Nordic, European and other international documentation on the subject. Legislation and responsibility regarding work zones differ from one country to another. A review of current standards in three of the Nordic countries reveals a fundamental difference in the way responsibility is enforced. In Denmark the employer can be sentenced to absolute liability, while in Sweden and Norway each person involved in the project can be made responsible for violations of the rules. Review of existing literature concerning accident rates reveal consistent results and show that accident rates increase in work zones. Road works tend to cause hazardous conditions for drivers and construction workers since they generate conflicts between construction activities and traffic. However, the amount of the increase in accident rates varies across studies. (Author/publisher)
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