Studies to determine the effectiveness of automated flagger assistance devices and school crossing devices.

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Project title: Evaluation of the effectiveness of automated flagger assistance devices
• Creators:
  Finley, Melisa D. ; Ullman, Brooke R. ; Trout, Nada D. ; Park, Eun Sug
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Transportation Institute
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Work zone traffic control
  • Highway traffic control systems
  • Flaggers
  • Road crews
  • Maintenance personnel
  • Lane closure
  • Pedestrian movement
  • Crosswalks
  • School crossings Electronic traffic controls
  • Flaggers (Road construction workers)
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-12/0-6407-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas
• Edition:
  Technical report; Sept. 2009-Aug. 2011.
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas Transportation Institute
• Abstract:
  This report describes the methodology and results of analyses performed to determine motorist understanding, as well as ; the operational and safety effectiveness, of automated flagger assistance devices (AFADs) relative to the use of flaggers at lane ; closures on two-lane, two-way roadways. Based on the motorist survey and field study findings, researchers recommended the use ; of both types of AFADs (stop/slow and red/yellow lens) in Texas. Researchers did not make any specific recommendations ; regarding the red/yellow lens AFADs, since the research findings supported the current language in the 2009 Manual on Uniform ; Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). For stop/slow AFADs, researchers recommended that a gate arm and alternative symbol ; supplemental signs be required to reduce violations and improve motorist understanding. In addition, researchers made various ; recommendations regarding the use of both types of AFADs. ; This report also describes the methodology and results of analyses performed to determine the effectiveness of 1) five ; stop paddles with embedded lights compared to a standard, un-lit stop paddle and 2) a prototype, portable, remotely operated, instreet ; school children crossing sign with flashing light emitting diodes (LEDs) around the border of each sign face. Based on the ; research findings, researchers recommended the use of one of the following to improve the conspicuity of crossing guards without ; negatively impacting a motorist's ability to recognize the three critical characteristics of a stop sign (i.e., red background color, ; octagon shape, and white STOP legend): ; -A stop paddle containing flashing red lights arranged in an octagonal pattern at the eight corners of the paddle. ; -A stop paddle containing a series of steady-burn red lights around the border arranged such that the lights clearly ; convey the octagonal shape of the paddle. ; -A stop paddle containing a series of flashing red lights around the border arranged such that the lights clearly ; convey the octagonal shape of the paddle. ; Researchers believed that crossing guards could us the prototype in-street school children crossing sign at school crossings to ; improve safety. Thus, researchers also made recommendations regarding its future use.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  Project 0-6407
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/23774/dot_23774_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.40 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:19f50481598a862935911f95661fd6d3c6513fb17adaf8dbeef2787544c9880991a28e6014f9eca7715361322c6b8d2084e22f20791485a4d09155a1bb7abea8