Work Zone Safety Best Practices Traffic Engineering & Safety Conference October 18, 2017 Dean Mentjes Federal Highway Administration Juan Pava Illinois Department of Transportation 1
Setting the Stage: The CHALLENGE of Today s Drivers 30 years ago Drunk Driving Epidemic Law enforcement, change of social acceptance [KEEP THIS DRIVER IN MIND AS WE DISCUSS WORK ZONE BEST PRACTICES] Today DISTRACTED DRIVING Cellphones are everywhere Internet, texting, Facebook New laws and enforcement help, BUT social acceptance needs to change
Standards and Guidelines Primary source is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Local Could have even more stringent requirements State Standards May have more stringent requirements MUTCD Minimum standards
Use correct signs from MUTCD Correct size and correct color of sheeting Symbols must be MUTCD-compliant, words must be standard font Using LARGER signs for better visibility is an Option Fluorescent sign sheeting No duct tape or electrical tape MUTCD W4-1
Sign Mounting Heights Temp Sign Stand = 1 ft Post-Mounted Urban = 7 ft Rural = 5 ft
Minimum spacing between WZ Signs (MUTCD Guidance) 40 MPH and lower = 100 feet 45-50 MPH = 300 feet 55 MPH = 500 feet Freeway/Expressway = 1000 feet to ½ mile (see IDOT standards)
Estimating distances in the field Standard skip-dash pattern = 40 ft per skip-dash
Quality Standard for Devices Marginal Unacceptable Small tears or scratches Faded retroreflective material Twisted or bent Missing large areas of retroreflective material
Temporary Pavement Markings Remove or cover all conflicting markings Grinding Water-blasting Blackout Tape Install temporary markings Same color & width as permanent markings
Work Zone Speed Limits Cover any pre-existing permanent Speed Limit Signs Can be same numerical speed as before with WZ plaques and fines New color (white) for End Work Zone Speed Limit in IDOT standards
Hi-Visibility Safety Apparel ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 required by MUTCD and OSHA (yellow or orange) Fluorescent t-shirts with no reflective stripes ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE Check the tag for ANSI certification Check the tag for ANSI certification ANSI Class 2 Safety Vest (orange) ACCEPTABLE
Proper Flagging 18 inch minimum SLOW paddle Fluorescent Orange Tall, rigid staff ANSI approved garment Proper techniques (IDOT Flagger Training available) FLAGGER AHEAD warning sign in advance of flagger Remove FLAGGER AHEAD sign when flagging has ended
Improper Flagging Back to Traffic & Improper Sign Location On Cell Phone Directing traffic sitting
Portable Changeable Message Signs Keep messages RELEVANT and SHORT Less Phases are better (MUTCD recommends max of 2) ILLEGAL IN WORK ZONE CELL PHONE USE Suggested one-phase message
Arrow Boards MUTCD Standard Arrow is for Lane Closure only Use Caution Message if not in a Lane Closure Use Flashing Arrow (not sequential arrow or sequential chevron) Delineate Arrow Boards because of Type IV crash status
Diagonal Striping has a correct direction Stripes Slope Downward In the Direction Traffic Is To Pass (Make sure all of your barricades are aligned in the correct direction)
In addition to Engineering Enforcement Education
Illinois Work Zone Related Fatalities 50 45 44 46 44 Fatalities 40 35 30 25 20 15 31 38 25 29 21 30 31 32 24 19 29 30 Total Fatalities Worker Fatalities 10 5 0 5 2 1 1 2 5 2 2 1 3 1 2 3 0 1 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Calendar Year
General Guidelines Maintain as many lanes open as possible Only work on one side of the road Work vehicle light may be use as additional warning, not in lieu of devices Distances in the standards are guidance always adjust the standard to field conditions Feet on the street, Vest on the chest Cover or remove non-applicable signs/devices Drive the work zone and make adjustments
Once you have set up WZ traffic control Do a drive through and look at it from a driver s perspective 1. Is everything set up correctly? 2. Is good guidance given to the unfamiliar driver?
Best Practices Through Work Zone Research Work Zone Lighting Speed Photo Enforcement Speed Display Trailers Smart Work Zones Public Information (DMS) Alternate devices LED RPMs Concrete Barrier Delineation Temporary Rumble Strips Moving Operations 21
Work Zone Lighting Use of Balloon lights Reduce glare Illuminated flagging stations 22
Law Enforcement Presence in Work Zones Most effective method of speed control Officer in cruiser, photo speed van, distracted driving wolf pack operations Positioning of enforcement unit (lane closure or advance warning area) 23
Speed Display Trailers Instant feedback Speed reduction Easy deployment 24
Smart Work Zone Systems Provide real-time information to road-users Array of sensors and feedback devices Changes as conditions change Alternate Routes Dynamic Merge Travel Times Queue Warning 25
Smart Work Zones - Queue Warning Systems Zone of advanced work zone awareness provided by Queue Warning System Warning Signs installed per TCP Activity Area STOPPED TRAFFIC 2 MILES PCMS Queue Detection Zone DYNAMIC WARNING MESSAGE DATA Queue Warning Controller FHWA 26
Smart Work Zones - Queue Warning Systems Portable changeable message signs Orange rectangular signs with flashing beacons on/off
Public Information Use of permanent Dynamic Message Signs for WZ specific info Use of Portable Message Signs
Experimental Features and Trials Blackout Tape Orange/White Waffle Reflectors Solar-powered LED Raised Pavement Markers Reboundable Direction Indicator Barricades
Temporary Rumble Strips Built-up layers of tape Portable temporary rumble strips monitor for movement Place them close to (in advance of) signs
Good Practice Title message Addition of orange warning signs to overhead guide signs Bullet point
Moving Operations Advance Warning Vehicle Use Truck/Trailer Mounted Attenuators Use of blocker trucks Be mindful of roll ahead distance Maintain work area tight
Work Zone Design Strategies: Broad-based Public Relations Work with the media Radio and TV Newspapers Telephone hotline Brochures Door hangers Public Service Announcements
FHWA Work Zone Web Site Facts & Statistics Best Practices Contracting Strategies Design & Construction Strategies ITS & Technology Performance Measurement WZ Process Review Toolbox Public Info Strategies Regulation & Policy Work Zone Final Rules Work Zone & Traffic Analysis Work Zone Traffic Management Worker Safety Training Peer-to-Peer Program National WZ Awareness Week Publications & Studies 34 34 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/workzones 34
workzonesafety.org A collection of work zone manuals, policies, guidebooks and handbooks Documents are published by state departments of transportation, local organizations, and other agencies
Dean Mentjes Federal Highway Administration Dean.Mentjes@dot.gov Juan Pava Illinois Department of Transportation Juan.Pava@Illinois.gov 36