Work Zone Safety Initiatives and Research Efforts. Irene Soria Safety Evaluation Engineer Illinois Department of Transportation Safety Engineering

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1 Work Zone Safety Initiatives and Research Efforts Irene Soria Safety Evaluation Engineer Illinois Department of Transportation Safety Engineering TES Conference - October 17 th, 2012

2 Outline Work Zone Fatalities and Safety Goals Work Zone Initiatives Embrace the Orange Campaign Safety Committee Observations IDOT/FHWA Process Review Policy Changes Work Zone Research Efforts Questions

3 year average: Illinois Fatalities TOTAL FATALITIES STATE ROUTES LOCAL ROUTES Lowest Since 1921: 37% Reduction

4 Work Zone Fatalities WZ Fatalities Workers

5 Zero Worker Fatalities WZ Safety Goals Reduce motorist fatalities in traffic-related work zone crashes by 10% annually with eventual goal of eliminating ALL of these fatalities. Eliminate crashes, resulting fatalities, and serious injuries caused by queuing. 5% annual reduction of WZ crashes

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8 EMBRACE THE ORANGE AND IDOT S 2012 WORK ZONE SAFETY PLEDGE Construction work zone crashes are 100% preventable, and I pledge to do my part to make zero fatalities a reality. I won t: Text and drive Talk on my phone in a work zone I will: Obey posted work zone speed limits 24/7 Pay attention to changing conditions when approaching a work zone Be courteous to other motorists I know that driving recklessly though a construction work zone could end my life, the lives of others, and hurt those I care for the most. I pledge to Drive Safely and to Embrace the Orange. X

9 WZ Fatal Crash IDOT/IDOL Settlement Review ALL policies, standards & specifications for short duration traffic control. Emphasize short duration traffic control in annual work zone reviews. Submit annual work zone review reports to IDOL. Provide training to ALL field personnel.

10 WZ Safety Implementation Committee Statewide Issues Truck Mounted Attenuators Slow Moving Operations Short Term Duration Construction Traffic Control Field Manual Traffic Control Standards & Specifications Work Site Protection Manual & Supplement Quality Standards Flaggers Handbook Minnesota DOT Field Manual

11 2012 Work Zone Annual Reviews WHERE: IDOT Districts 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 OBJECTIVES: Review active work zones for safety issues and best practices Meet with District personnel for input and feedback Recommend potential improvements to statewide Policy, Standards, and Specifications.

12 General Compliance & WZ Device Quality Generally good compliance with Standards & Specs Mostly Acceptable device quality, occasional Marginal devices Ongoing Research Project Effectiveness of Nighttime Temporary Traffic Control Devices Acceptable Marginal Unacceptable

13 Flaggers No identified systematic problems Several individual project issues noted & corrected Recommend continued training & enforcement Ongoing Research Project Flaggers vs. Spotters in directing WZ traffic for freeways and expressways

14 Better Worker Protection & Visibility High Visibility Vests All Workers: ANSI Class 2 Night ANSI Class 3 Nighttime Illumination

15 Better Worker Protection & Visibility

16 Worker on right side of barricades has a vest on. If you look closely there is a worker on the left side of the barricade beside the other worker without a vest.

17 Work Zone Speed Management Improved Speed Limit management overall Signing at end of WZ (proximity) Radar Your Speed WZ Speed Limit 45 MPH signs, number and location Covering up pre-existing Speed Limit signs

18 WZ Speed Management New WZ Speed Limit sign standard (IDOT & Tollway) Replaces BEGINS and RESUMES plaques with PHOTO ENFORCED New for 2013 construction season

19 Temporary Concrete Barrier End section pinning compliance Pinning to bridge decks Pinning depth into pavement section Task Groups (BSE / District and Nebraska Pooled Fund)

20 IDOT Drop-Off Policy Drop-off without protection Temporary concrete barrier adjacent to drop-off Drop-off policy update (BSE and task group)

21 Contractor Traffic Control Individual (Supervisor or Technician) D7 Special Provision observed to work well Several Districts have requested use Recommend for Statewide consideration

22 WZ Safety and Mobility Compliance with BSE policy confirmed for all districts reviewed. Updating of significant route maps complete. On going research Training & Implementing Queue & User s Cost in Highway

23 ITS in Work Zones Several Districts using ITS & TMS devices to warn of approaching queues Good practice with Safety & Mobility benefits, added project cost Recommended for further implementation Develop Statewide Spec

24 Good Practices

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26 Questions