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:
  Accident Analysis Accident Causes Surveys Trend (Statistics) Truck Mounted Attenuators Work Zones Work Zone Safety
• 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.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  105843
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:cb66cf4282a1418d584bf585b7703d65ec4825d24f08b21ec9c7544559fe6fde
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29718/dot_29718_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1014.87 KB ]