Work Zone Safety

1
Work Zone Safety Mobility
Excerpts from a Presentation Given at the
Montana Regional Work Zone Rule Workshop in April
2006

• Dave Holstein, Administrator
• ODOT Office of Traffic Engineering
• dave.holstein_at_dot.state.oh.us
• 614-644-8137

2
Linking Safety and Congestion

• In Ohio
• 43 of all Interstate crashes happen on 12 of
  the Interstate system.
• 19 of all NON Interstate crashes happen on 2 of
  the NON Interstate system.
• When overlaid against Ohios congested locations
  the 12 (IR) and 2 (NON IR) are an almost exact
  match to the congested locations.
• Congestion causes crashes

3
Linking Safety and Congestion

• Historical WZ crash analysis in Ohio shows that
  congested work zones CAUSE CRASHES.
• Much of ODOTs WZ processes revolve around
  identifying work zone capacity needs and
  determining constraints to providing that
  necessary capacity.

4
Why Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) is Important in
Ohio

• 35th in geographical size
• 10th largest highway network
• 5th highest volume of traffic
• 5th highest volume of truck traffic
• 4th largest interstate network
• 2002 NCAA Football Champions

5
Why MOT is Important in Ohio

• Need to comply with the new Federal Regulations
  on Work Zone Safety and Mobility (23 CFR 630
  Subpart J)
• October 2007 Deadline

6
Why MOT is Important in Ohio
Because We Can Make a Difference
7
Why MOT is Important in Ohio

• In addition to mobility, safety, and economic
  reasons for good work zone processes
• Our Governor got REALLY mad when he was stopped
  in a work zone!!

8
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
Regulations

• Historical WZ Crash Data
• 630.1008 State Level Processes and Procedures
• Shall use field observations, wz crash data.
• Shall continually pursue improvement of wz
  safety and mobility by analyzing work zone crash
  and operational data from multiple projects.

9
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis

• Why did we do the analysis?
• ODOT is embarking on the largest construction
  program(s) in our history
• Director was concerned about the impact our work
  zones will have on crashes
• Question - Are the ODOT work zones causing more
  accidents?
• - If so, can we do more to limit the increase?

10
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis

• THE KNEE JERK REACTION
• Well of course we have more crashes in work
  zones. Narrow lanes, barriers next to lanes, and
  on and on. and on.
• Historical crash data analysis showed there were
  things we could do better!!

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis
WZ Crash Rate1.68
NON WZ Crash Rate Rate 1.04
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis
WZ Crash Rate2.02
NON WZ Crash Rate Rate 1.19
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis

• Drilled deeper into data
• Logged and analyzed hundreds of work zone
  crashes. Looked for abnormally high
  concentration of crashes.
• Analysis showed need for new/revised
  specifications processes

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis

• Results
• Geometrics - The abnormally high
  concentrations of crashes showed there were major
  geometric contributing factors to Ohios work
  zone crashes
• (a) Inadequate ramp merges
• (b) Inadequate off-ramp capacity
• (c) Insufficient paved shoulders

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis

• Ramp Merges Created new standards for work zone
  on-ramp merges. Merges are now required to be
  detailed in plans. (now explicitly looked at in
  MOTAA)
• Paved shoulders Created desired/minimum cross
  section that requires a 2 paved shoulder (now
  used in Maintenance of Traffic Alternative
  Analysis (MOTAA) and detailed design)
• Off-Ramp-Capacity Now explicitly looked for in
  MOTAA.

16
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis

• Historical wz crash analysis will be performed
  every two years seeking additional lessons
  learned.
• Policies/standards/specifications will be changed
  as necessary to keep problems from happening
  again.

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsHistorical Crash Analysis

• Hot off the presses 2006 Historical Data
  Analysis has started..
• Emphasis on Fatalities and Fatal Crashes..
• Preliminary Information follows..

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
Regulations2006 Historical Crash Analysis
New Emphasis Areas??
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
Regulations2006 Historical Crash Analysis

• Of the total 110 fatal WZ crashes 22 involved
  pedestrians as the victim (20).

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
Regulations2006 Historical Crash Analysis

• 18 of the 22 pedestrians were construction
  workers (82).
• 5 of the 18 were construction related vehicle
  running over the worker.
• 4 of the 18 were workers being inside the travel
  lane.
• 8 of the 18 were vehicles speeding, running off
  the road or driving through a coned off lane and
  striking a worker.
• 1 of 18 included a vehicle hitting a bucket truck
  and the worker fell out

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
Regulations2006 Historical Crash Analysis

• 17 of the fatal crashes were caused by vehicles
  not stopping when traffic was stopped in the
  traveling lanes (15).
• 11 of the 17 were on Interstate routes.
• 3 of the 17 during morning peak hours
• 3 of the 17 occurred during the evening peak
  hours
• 6 of the 17 occurred at night (930 pm to
  midnight)
• 2 of the 17 occurred midday
• 3 of the 17 occurred due to vehicles not stopping
  for equipment in the travel lane.

Were not supposed to have backups?!?!?!
??? What the heck were we doing at this time of
night???
22
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
Regulations2006 Historical Crash Analysis
Problems?
23
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
Regulations

• Real Time WZ Crash Data
• 630.1008 State Level Processes and Procedures
• Shall use field observations, wz crash data.
• Shall continually pursue improvement of wz
  safety and mobility by analyzing work zone crash
  and operational data from multiple projects.

24
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis

• Candidate projects identified in winter.
• Coordinate w/local enforcement to have WZ crashes
  put aside for pickup twice/month. PHYSICALLY
  PICKING UP CRASH REPORTS IS THE ONLY METHOD THAT
  HAS WORKED.
• Data base application automatically sorts crashes
  into ½ mile segments (geo locate).
• Compared to historical non-construction
  frequencies.
• Problem locations investigated.

25
ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis

• -This slide targeted to the computer
  enthusiasts
• Data input into Access data base through data
  entry form.
• Crash trends are sorted and analyzed using pivot
  tables/charts.
• Individual queries created for each wz in Access
  data base file.
• Excel (using visual basic coding) hits data base
  file and runs queries to refresh charts and
  graphs with latest data.

WARNING
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis

• System is set up by start of construction season.
• Once Set-up, the ONLY thing needed done is to
  input new crash data.

• ALL CHARTS, GRAPHS, DATA ARE GENERATED
  AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE PUSH OF A BUTTON VERY
  COOL .

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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis
Main Screen
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis
Click to Access Data Entry Screen
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis
Crash Report Data Entry Form
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis
Non WZ Avg of Crashes 31 (7 months)
Application Outputs
WZ 3 Month Crash Total 48 (Big Problem)
Mile 16.2 16.99
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis
Application Outputs
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis
Application Outputs
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ODOTs WZ Process in Terms of the New Federal WZ
RegulationsReal Time Crash Analysis
Application Outputs