Work Zone Safety Initiatives and Research Efforts Irene Soria Safety Evaluation Engineer Illinois Department of Transportation Safety Engineering TES Conference - October 17 th, 2012
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
1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 1454 754 721 700 1355 1363 10 year average: 1450 634 Illinois Fatalities 788 1254 1248 699 575 555 751 497 1043 604 439 911 927 918 552 528 359 399 TOTAL FATALITIES STATE ROUTES LOCAL ROUTES Lowest Since 1921: 37% Reduction 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 500 418
Work Zone Fatalities 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 44 38 31 29 30 31 32 25 24 21 5 5 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 2 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 WZ Fatalities Workers
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
Better Worker Protection & Visibility High Visibility Vests All Workers: ANSI Class 2 Flaggers @ Night ANSI Class 3 Nighttime Illumination
Better Worker Protection & Visibility
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.
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
WZ Speed Management New WZ Speed Limit sign standard (IDOT & Tollway) Replaces BEGINS and RESUMES plaques with PHOTO ENFORCED New for 2013 construction season
Temporary Concrete Barrier End section pinning compliance Pinning to bridge decks Pinning depth into pavement section Task Groups (BSE / District and Nebraska Pooled Fund)
IDOT Drop-Off Policy Drop-off without protection Temporary concrete barrier adjacent to drop-off Drop-off policy update (BSE and task group)
Contractor Traffic Control Individual (Supervisor or Technician) D7 Special Provision observed to work well Several Districts have requested use Recommend for Statewide consideration
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
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
Good Practices
Questions