Large Truck Safety in Work Zones
Martha C. Kapitanov FHWA-Work Zone Management
November 16, 2017
2013 FHWA Work Zone Safety Grant: American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
• Design and Operations of Work Zones Strategies to Improve Large Truck Safety publication • Safe Trucking Through Work Zones brochure and PPT
Large Truck Safety in Work Zones Webinars National Symposium on Work Zones and Large Trucks Work Zones and Large Trucks Stakeholder Meeting National Work Zone Awareness Week
April 9-13, 2018
Work Zones and Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) Communication and Outreach Plan
FHWA Efforts to Improve Large Truck Safety in Work Zones
• FHWA Work Zone Management Website: • http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/
• National Work Zone Awareness Week Web page: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/outreach/wz_awareness.htm
• National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse Website: • https://www.workzonesafety.org/
• National Symposium on Work Zones and Large Trucks Summary Report:
• https://www.workzonesafety.org/ • Large Trucks in Work Zones Web page:
• https://www.workzonesafety.org/work_zone_topics/heavy-vehicles/ • EDC-3 Smarter Work Zone Toolkit:
• https://www.workzonesafety.org/swz/
Resources
Our Roads, Our Safety Program
Website and toolkits Website information:
Website location: www.sharetheroadsafely.gov Campaign-specific landing pages featuring new animated
videos produced by partners. An online and printed partnership toolkit with program
materials was developed. The online toolkit is available on the website.
The online toolkit allows:
users to either download digital assets, share content on social media platforms, print out materials for events, and request select printed materials, among other uses.
The printed toolkit incudes: Our Roads, Our Safety Brochure Three Tip Sheets: The CMV drivers tip sheet highlights
practicing work zone safety. Our Roads, Our Safety Post cards Our Roads, Our Safety Bumper sticker
Printed Toolkit The Our Roads, Our Safety Toolkit includes a double-sided tips sheet for CMV Drivers.
Work Zone Safety Tips Include:
Obeying signs and signals Slowing down Maintaining extra space
This information is also found on the Our Roads, Our Safety website at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/tips-cmv-drivers
Website and toolkits
Suggested Facebook Post: 30% of fatal crashes in work zones involved at least one large truck. Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and obey all work zone signs and signals. #OurRoads Suggested Twitter Post: 30% of fatal crashes in work zones involved at least one large truck. Stay alert and obey all work zone signs and signals. #OurRoads
Download the Work Zone graphic at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/spread-word
Our Roads, Our Safety offers an infographic and proposed social media content for sharing on multiple social media sites.
• Best practices for enhancement of work zone and CMV safety through optimal use of law enforcement and commercial trucking resources, assets, and personnel.
• Best practices for State Department of Transportation (DOT)s and safety organizations to enhance CMV safety in work zones.
• Outreach materials targeted to CMV drivers and other road users to improve safety in work zones.
Ideas…
Martha C. Kapitanov FHWA-Office of Operations
Work Zone Management Team [email protected]
Questions?
Improving Large Truck Safety
in Work Zones
November 16, 2017
ARTBA FHWA AASHTO TTI NAPA IUOE NLTAPA FOF CCCHST
Outline of Webinar
• Characteristics of large truck crashes in work zones • Large truck characteristics affecting work zone
safety • Transportation management plan accommodations
for large trucks
Large Truck Definition (FARS) • Trucks Over 10,000 Pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
• 70% truck tractor-trailers • 27% single-unit straight trucks
Large Trucks are Overrepresented in Work Zones…
24% 26%
22% 22%
27%
24%
28% 30%
27% 27%
11% 11% 9%
11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11%
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Fata
l Wor
k Zo
ne C
rash
es p
er Y
ear
% o
f Fat
al C
rash
es In
volv
ing
Larg
e Tr
ucks
Work Zone Non-Work Zone Fatal Work Zone Crashes
Why the Overrepresentation? • More large trucks around work
zones • More work zones when trucks
travel more
• Work zones more challenging for trucks to negotiate
Interstate and Freeway Work Zones are Especially Problematic…
Source: 2014-2016 FARS
24.8% 22.9%
17.8% 17.9% 19.9%
31.6%
48.6%
34.9% 31.5%
36.8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
AM Peak Midday PM Peak Nighttime Overrall
Perc
ent o
f Fat
al C
rash
es In
volv
ing
a La
rge
Truc
k
Non-Work Zone Work Zone
…But Other Roadway Types Experience It As Well
11.6%
6.5%
21.7%
16.1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Principal/Minor Arterials Collectors/Local Roads
Perc
ent o
f Fat
al C
rash
es In
volv
ing
a La
rge
Truc
k
Non-Work Zone Work Zone
Source: 2014-2016 FARS
Large Truck Crashes in Work Zones are Different than Non-Truck Crashes
64.3%
15.9%
2.9%
9.7% 5.2%
1.9%
27.6%
57.3%
5.9% 4.5% 3.0% 1.8% 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Single-Vehicle Rear-End Sideswipe Angle Head-On Other
Perc
ent o
f Fat
al W
ork
Zone
Cra
shes
Fatal Work Zone Crashes on Interstates/Freeways
Non-Large Truck-Involved Large Truck Involved
Source: 2014-2016 FARS
77.7%
5.9% 0.5%
8.5% 6.4% 1.1%
42.9%
25.7%
2.9%
14.3% 11.4% 2.9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Single-Vehicle Rear-End Sideswipe Angle Head-On Other
Perc
ent o
f Fat
al W
ork
Zone
Cra
shes
Fatal Work Zone Crashes on Collectors and Local Roads
Non-Large Truck-Involved Large Truck Involved
Source: 2014-2016 FARS
Types of Work Zone Crashes Where Large Trucks are Overrepresented
Roadway Type Types of Crashes High-Speed Controlled Access Roadways Rear-End Collisions
Sideswipe Collisions Other Multi-Lane Roadways Sideswipe Collisions
Angle Collisions Impacts with Objects
Two-Lane Highways Rear-End Collisions Head-On Collisions
Source: 2011-2013 HSIS
Large Truck Characteristics Affecting Work Zone Safety
Large Trucks
• Longer and wider • Heavier • Higher center-of-gravity • Larger blind spots • Lower acceleration and
deceleration rates • Greater distance between driver
eye and vehicle headlights
Signs and Markings Appear Less Bright to Truck Drivers
So How Can Large Truck Safety in Work Zone be Increased?
Incorporate Large Truck Considerations into Transportation Management Plan
• Traffic control plan
• Traffic operations plan
• Public information and outreach plan
Include Temporal Effects of Large Trucks in Impact Analyses
Work Zone Design Practices to Better Accommodate Large Trucks
Lane Width Considerations • 11 ft minimum, 12 ft desirable • Differential lane widths • Provide sufficient warning of limited lane width work zones
Encourage Large Truck Diversion
• Ensure that the route can accommodate:
• Volumes • Heights, widths, and weights • Turning, off-tracking
• Minimize additional travel distance • Good outreach is critical
Establish Truck-Only Lane(s) through Work Zone
Maintain Adequate Truck Parking at Nearby Rest Areas
Improve Work Space Access
Construction Access Warnings
Improve Sight Triangles
Use Heavier Shadow Vehicles with Proper Truck-Mounted Attenuators
Consequences of an 80,000 lb Truck-Tractor Collision
Other Good Practices
• Establish reasonable design speeds and speed limits
• Maintain good sign, channelizing device, and pavement marking visibility
• Avoid short or no-acceleration lane entrance ramps
• Establish contingencies for hazardous material incidents
Strategies to Help Truck Drivers Traverse Work Zones Safer and More Easily
Truck Driver-Focused Information and Outreach
• Distribute at truck stops, rest areas, dispatching centers, etc.
• General work zone safety outreach
• Targeted project-specific information
Utilize Work Zone ITS Where Appropriate
• Real-time traveler information • Queue warning • Dynamic merging • Construction access warning • Variable speed limits • Automated enforcement • Temporary ramp metering
End-of-Queue Warning
Dynamic Merge
Portable Rumble Strips
Sequential Warning Light Systems
Resources
• Large Trucks in Work Zones webpage: https://www.workzonesafety.org/work_zone_topics/heavy-vehicles/
Questions?
Gerald Ullman Senior Research Engineer Texas A&M Transportation Institute [email protected] (979) 845-9908
© 2017 American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Washington, DC
This material is based upon work supported by the Federal Highway Administration under Grant Agreement No. 93JJ31750009. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration. This publication does not constitute a national standard, specification, or regulation. No statement made in this booklet should be construed to convey an impression that any member of the consortium, its affiliates, or employees have assumed any part of the employer’s exclusive legal responsibility for providing a “safe and healthful workplace” as mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.