Evaluation of innovative traffic safety devices at short-term work zones.

Details

• Creators:
  Wang, Ming-Heng ; Schrock, Steven D. ; Bai, Yong ; Rescot, Robert A.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Kansas. Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Field Tests Literature Reviews Rumble Strips Surveys Temporary Barriers Traffic Control Devices Variable Message Signs Work Zone Traffic Control
• Publication/ Report Number:
  K-TRAN: KU-09-5R
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Kansas
• Corporate Publisher:
  Kansas. Dept. of Transportation
• NTL Classification:
  NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway Safety
• Abstract:
  The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate the usage and effectiveness of innovative traffic control
  
  devices that can be used in short-term work zones. Any device to be used in short-term work zones should command
  
  the respect of drivers, be durable, have an easily understood meaning, be low cost, be quick and easy to install and
  
  remove, and be reusable.
  
  This study was conducted in three sections: a literature review of previously published research, a nationwide
  
  usage survey, and a field test for a selected device, portable plastic rumble strip (PPRS).
  
  PPRSs, which have been tested on a closed course, were found to be a device potentially suitable for use at shortterm
  
  work zones. This field study was to investigate the effects of the PPRSs and drivers’ response to them at three
  
  short-term maintenance work zones in Kansas. The results showed that the effect of PPRSs in speed reductions was
  
  more significant on cars than on trucks. The PPRSs reduced car speeds by 4.6 to 11.4 miles per hour. They also created
  
  5.0 to 11.7 miles per hour mean speed reduction for trucks, but the reductions were only at two test sites. It was
  
  observed that 30 to 80 percent of truck drivers activated their brakes (indicated by brake light illumination) when they
  
  approached the PPRSs. In addition, about five percent of car and truck drivers swerved around the PPRSs. This
  
  indicates that additional signage or other supplemental traffic devices would be needed when the PPRSs are
  
  implemented.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  C1786
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b3afa4a06db08700c73f6ed096767cac87d67267bd36c8e554833e995db55886
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/26339/dot_26339_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.55 MB ]