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:
  Crosswalks Flaggers Flaggers (Road Construction Workers) Highway Traffic Control Systems Lane Closure Maintenance Personnel Pedestrian Movement Road Crews School Crossing Guards School Crossings Electronic Traffic Controls Work Zone Traffic Control

  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.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  Project 0-6407
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:19f50481598a862935911f95661fd6d3c6513fb17adaf8dbeef2787544c9880991a28e6014f9eca7715361322c6b8d2084e22f20791485a4d09155a1bb7abea8
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/23774/dot_23774_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.40 MB ]