Mobile Workzone Sign Support

Details

• Creators:
  Becker, Jonathan ; Orth, Paul ; Riley, Tim
• Corporate Creators:
  South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ; South Dakota State University
• Corporate Contributors:
  South Dakota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Flagman Highway Safety Maintenance Personnel Manuals Mobile Applications Remotely Controlled Vehicle Sign Support Traffic Control Traffic Signs Work Zone Safety
• Publication/ Report Number:
  SD94-08
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  South Dakota ; United States
• Edition:
  Final Report August 1994 to May 1998
• Corporate Publisher:
  South Dakota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research
• Abstract:
  During certain highway maintenance operations, work zones move necessitating resetting the ''Flagman Ahead signs. The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requires signs to be placed between eight and twelve times the posted speed limit. Generally, the signs are placed at ten times the posted speed limit of the work zone the maintenance is being performed upon. i.e. 550 feet on a 55-mph highway. The sign placement is critical to the safety of the workers in that the flagman ahead signs are the first warning to the drivers that they should be prepared to stop. When it is necessary for the signs to be moved a maintenance worker temporarily leaves his maintenance duties to reset signs. In light of these concerns, it was decided to study the use of a small remotely controlled Mobile Sign Support (MSS) in place of the presently used signs. The use of a MSS would alleviate the safety and productivity concerns in that the flag persons would be operating the sign from their positions not requiring anyone to travel outside of the work zone to reset the stationary signs. Two MSS's were built. one by each of two engineering schools in South Dakota. The MSS's are simply operated, powered by two electric motors. The batteries provide power for a 10-hour workday and are fully charged in one night. They were tested in actual work zone environments twice and passed requirements for duration, ease of operation mobility on uneven terrain and grades.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1c9a2c974a08590915c82cbe17f8a598774dfe1de65d9fc8c3e8abb72591546158796279b3d48e67e053d4fc3c640ff45936dbb546006b188a53fcd82aa57e85
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/80172/dot_80172_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.66 MB ]