Investigation of truck mounted attenuator (TMA) crashes in work zones in Virginia.

Details

• Creators:
  Cottrell, Benjamin H. Jr.
• Corporate Creators:
  Virginia Transportation Research Council
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration ; Virginia. Dept. of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Truck mounted attenuators
  • Work zones
  • Work zone safety
  • Accident causes
  • Accident analysis
  • Trend (Statistics)
  • Surveys
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/VTRC 16-R7
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Virginia
• Corporate Publisher:
  Virginia Transportation Research Council
• Abstract:
  Truck mounted attenuators (TMAs) are deployed on shadow vehicles in work zones to mitigate the effects of errant ; vehicles that strike the shadow vehicle, either by smoothly decelerating the vehicle to a stop when hit head-on or by redirecting ; the errant vehicle. The purpose of this study was to investigate crashes involving TMAs in work zones in Virginia. The ; objectives of the study were (1) to review trends over the last 3 to 5 years in crashes involving TMAs including a measure of ; traffic exposure such as the frequency of work zones using TMAs; and (2) to identify the causal factors of crashes in work zones ; where TMAs are involved. ; An email survey of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and contractor staff was administered to obtain ; information on the opinions of field forces with regard to the use of TMAs in work zones and their safety in mobile and lane ; closure operations. Crashes involving TMAs from 2011-2014 in Virginia were compiled and analyzed. ; Based on the survey results, driver inattention/behavior, road geometrics/sight distance, mobile operations, and not ; following the Virginia Work Area Protection Manual are possible contributing factors for TMA crashes. TMA crashes increased ; from 2011-2014, and most of these crashes occurred on the interstate. A majority of TMA crashes occurred in VDOT’s Northern ; Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Richmond districts. A typical TMA crash involved a contractor TMA vehicle that was struck from ; the rear by a male driving a passenger vehicle. TMA crashes accounted for less than 1% of all work zone crashes in Virginia ; from 2011-2014. There is no clear-cut solution to resolving TMA crashes. Although they represent a small number of crashes ; compared to the overall number of work zones crashes, most of them affect at least two people: the motorist striking the TMA ; vehicle and the TMA operator. ; The study offers a number of recommendations to reduce the incidence of TMA-involved crashes. First, VDOT should ; require TMA operator training. Second, VDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division should share the information with regard to TMA ; crash experience with the VDOT regions, with particular emphasis on the regions with the highest number of crashes. In addition, ; VDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division should review the benefits of having the first TMA vehicle in a travel lane straddling the ; lane, as opposed to being fully in the lane, and the spacing of TMA vehicles near ramps during mobile operations. Finally, ; VDOT should consider working with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and/or others on media and outreach campaigns ; for distracted driving and include mobile work zones for safer work zones.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  105843
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29718/dot_29718_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1014.87 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:cb66cf4282a1418d584bf585b7703d65ec4825d24f08b21ec9c7544559fe6fde