RoadSafety@iastate.edu

Work Zone SafetyWork Zone Safety

CE 486Spring 2004

DISCLAIMER: This document is provided as part of the requirements of a civil engineering course at Iowa State University and does not constitute a professional engineering design or a professional land surveying document. Although the information is intended to be accurate, students, instructors, and Iowa State University make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information. The user of this document shall ensure that such use does not violate Iowa law with regard to professional licensing and certification requirements, including any work resulting from this student-prepared document required to be under the responsible charge of a licensed engineer or surveyor.

Slide 2

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements ClientClient

Mark Bortle, Mark Bortle, Safety EngineerSafety Engineer (IDOT) (IDOT) AdvisorsAdvisors

Dr. John Lamont (ECpE)Dr. John Lamont (ECpE)Prof. Ralph Patterson III (ECpE)Prof. Ralph Patterson III (ECpE)AAP Duane Smith P.E. (CCEE)AAP Duane Smith P.E. (CCEE)Prof. Veronica Dark (Psych)Prof. Veronica Dark (Psych)

Slide 3

Defining the RS-4 Work ZoneDefining the RS-4 Work ZoneMatthew Baker: EEMatthew Baker: EE

Analyzing Crash DataAnalyzing Crash DataNancy Suby-Bohn: CENancy Suby-Bohn: CE

Road Construction Safety TeamRoad Construction Safety TeamSD-May04-01SD-May04-01

OutlineOutline

Slide 4

Distracted or “Zoned Out”Distracted or “Zoned Out”Josh Keith: CEJosh Keith: CE

Classical ConditioningClassical ConditioningAngel Anderson: CprEAngel Anderson: CprE

Instrumental ConditioningInstrumental ConditioningAbdul Nuhu: EEAbdul Nuhu: EE

OutlineOutline

“Grabbing driver’s cognitive reasoning”“Grabbing driver’s cognitive reasoning”

Slide 5

Real-time InformationReal-time InformationClinton Dawson: CprEClinton Dawson: CprE

Education the PublicEducation the PublicAmit Agarwal: CprEAmit Agarwal: CprE

OutlineOutline

Slide 6

http://seniord.ee.iastate.edu/may0401/http://seniord.ee.iastate.edu/may0401/

Photo courtesy IDOT

Slide 7

Photo courtesy of Work Zone Safety for Iowa DOT Construction Projects

Slide 8

Work Zone

Picture courtesy of MUTCD 2000

• day or night

• scheduled daily work

Slide 9

Flagger

Flagger

Combined with a pilot car

Picture courtesy of MUTCD 2000

Slide 10

Flagger

Flagger

Combined with a pilot car

Lane Closure• usually stretches between 2 and 2 ½ miles

Picture courtesy of MUTCD 2000

Slide 11

Slide 12

1 - Lane closure 2 - Lane shift/crossover (head-to-head traffic) ** 3 - Work on Shoulder or median 4 - Intermittent or Moving work ** 8 - Other type of work zone (explained in narrative) 9 - Unknown

Slide 13

Slide 14

Temporary Rumble StripsTemporary Rumble Strips

Placement- Advance Warning AreaPlacement- Advance Warning Area Tactile and auditory stimulus to focus driver’s Tactile and auditory stimulus to focus driver’s

attention on impending constructionattention on impending construction ¼” Thickness combined with road construction ¼” Thickness combined with road construction

orangeorange Currently determining ideal placement pattern and Currently determining ideal placement pattern and

ADT guidelinesADT guidelines Research from MwSWZDI and Texas Research from MwSWZDI and Texas

Transportation InstituteTransportation Institute

Slide 15

DistractionsDistractions

Cell Phones

Road Hypnosis

Passengers

Daily pattern/rut

Slide 16

Slide 17

Slide 18

Possible ReasonsPossible Reasons

Getting one’s attention is not the same Getting one’s attention is not the same as getting to one’s decision process.as getting to one’s decision process.

Classical Conditioning – Stop SignClassical Conditioning – Stop Sign Instrumental Conditioning – reaction to a police Instrumental Conditioning – reaction to a police

carcar Learned Irrelevance – lack of need to respondLearned Irrelevance – lack of need to respond Conscious Choice – realizing a need to respondConscious Choice – realizing a need to respond

Veronica Dark, Assoc Professor, Veronica Dark, Assoc Professor, Department of Psychology, ISUDepartment of Psychology, ISU

Slide 19

Slide 20

SignsSigns

www.addcoinc.com/t_smart.htm and pennsylvania IDOT

Slide 21

www.addcoinc.com/t_smart.htm

Slide 22

Variable Message Variable Message Fine Display SignFine Display Sign

Radar + Variable Message Board + FineRadar + Variable Message Board + Fine Easily ProgrammableEasily Programmable Data Collection OptionsData Collection Options

Slide 23

Photo courtesy of Work Zone Safety for Iowa DOT Construction Projects

The Current Problem

Slide 24

Work Zone Exit/EntranceWork Zone Exit/Entrance

Goal: Design all encompassing systemGoal: Design all encompassing system Configure light timing mechanismsConfigure light timing mechanisms Determine most effective light configurationDetermine most effective light configuration Modify traffic lights to needed specificationsModify traffic lights to needed specifications

Two approaches consideredTwo approaches considered Portable traffic lightPortable traffic light 3 mode portable traffic light w/gate3 mode portable traffic light w/gate

Slide 25

Work Zone Exit/Entrance cont…Work Zone Exit/Entrance cont…

Portable traffic lightPortable traffic light

Seven day battery life before Seven day battery life before charge with optional solar power charge with optional solar power unit.unit.

A cell-phone based status A cell-phone based status monitor informs workers of monitor informs workers of malfunctionsmalfunctions

Vehicle presence sensor mode Vehicle presence sensor mode Ability to operate continuously Ability to operate continuously

for 365 days a yearfor 365 days a year

Slide 26

Work Zone Exit/Entrance cont…Work Zone Exit/Entrance cont…

3 mode portable traffic 3 mode portable traffic light w/gatelight w/gate

Seven day battery life Seven day battery life before charge with before charge with optional solar power optional solar power unit.unit.

Removable break Removable break away gateaway gate

Automatic mode, Automatic mode, Manual mode, and Manual mode, and

Wired remote mode.Wired remote mode.

Slide 27

511 Phone/Website511 Phone/Website

Suggestions to improve or change current 511 Suggestions to improve or change current 511 websitewebsite

Make changes to the 511 automated phone-systemMake changes to the 511 automated phone-system Add features Add features Spread awareness among public to increase use Spread awareness among public to increase use Raise user friendliness of the systemRaise user friendliness of the system

Slide 28

Slide 29

Current MethodsCurrent Methods

Research methods used currentlyResearch methods used currently Whom do they target?Whom do they target? Do they fulfill the requirement of the project?Do they fulfill the requirement of the project? Adaptable?Adaptable? Cost EffectivenessCost Effectiveness

Different campaigns underway nationallyDifferent campaigns underway nationally Study the campaigns in Iowa and other statesStudy the campaigns in Iowa and other states Analyze their effectivenessAnalyze their effectiveness Whether they are realizable in IowaWhether they are realizable in Iowa

Slide 30

Educational componentEducational component

Multiple Objectives:Multiple Objectives:• Educate the public (drivers, future drivers)Educate the public (drivers, future drivers)

Different types of drivers (SUVs, cars, trucks, etc..)Different types of drivers (SUVs, cars, trucks, etc..) Different approaches for each categoryDifferent approaches for each category

• Educate the construction workersEducate the construction workers Using the new setupUsing the new setup Basic safety guidelines to followBasic safety guidelines to follow

Slide 31

ConclusionConclusion

Different components being designed for greater Different components being designed for greater effectivenesseffectiveness

All the components might not be implemented All the components might not be implemented immediately or togetherimmediately or together

Components are aimed for maximum cognitive Components are aimed for maximum cognitive stimulationstimulation

Components meet design plan submitted to the Components meet design plan submitted to the clientclient

Slide 32

RS-4 Road StandardRS-4 Road Standard

Slide 33

Any Any QuestionsQuestions

??

Photo courtesy of Work Zone Safety for Iowa DOT Construction Projects