How Safe Is America's Roadway System?

The U.S. roadway system's positive trends have plateaued at a fatality
rate that is the lowest in history at 1.5 deaths per 100 million miles
of travel (down from 5.5 fatalities in 1966). However, that's still not
good enough.  In 2002, almost 3 million people were injured and 42,815
people died on our nation's roads. The number of annual roadway
fatalities had remained virtually unchanged (40,000-42,000) for the
past ten years, but now there is an upward trend.

How Significant is the Work Zone Safety Problem? 

With
more than a 55% increase in work zone fatalities between 1997 and 2002,
work zone safety is a growing roadway safety concern.  In 2002, there
were 1,181 work zone fatalities; this figure represents 2.8% of all
roadway fatalities for the year.  Four out of every five work zone
fatalities were motorists.

In all, there were 117,567 work zone crashes and over 52,000 people
were injured in work zone crashes (1.8% of all roadway injuries).

Can You Put This in Perspective?
One work zone fatality every 7 hours (3 a day)
One work zone injury every 15 minutes (143 a day)
Financial loss of $3 Billion from work zone crashes in 2001

What is the FHWA Goal to Reduce Work Zone Fatalities?

As a safety agency dedicated to saving lives, FHWA is dedicated to reducing congestion and crashes due to work zones.

What is the FHWA Doing to Solve This National Safety Problem?

FHWA
is actively pursuing improved work zone safety through a multi-faceted
approach in the fields of engineering, education, enforcement, and
coordination with public safety agencies (police and fire).  FHWA also
partners with a variety of organizations that are interested in
improving roadway safety such as the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), State Departments of
Transportation, the American Traffic Safety Services Association
(ATSSA), the American Road and Transportation Builders Association
(ARTBA), Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), the Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE), the National Utility Contractors
Association (NUCA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP), the National Association of County Engineers (NACE), the
American Public Works Association (APWA), and the Governors Highway
Safety Association (GHSA).

Engineering: On the engineering front, FHWA supports research
into a variety of design features that create safer work zones. The
National Highway Work Zone Safety Program, sponsored and funded by
FHWA, looks to improve work zone safety. Two areas that this program
focuses on are standardization and
evaluation.                                                  

Standardization of work zone areas is set by FHWA in both the
traffic control and in the work zone safety equipment. All national
safety standards to control traffic through work zones are contained in
the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).  FHWA has
responsibility for the MUTCD, and also for the NCHRP350, which contains
the federal standards and guidelines for all work zone safety
equipment.                   

Keeping national standards current with the latest technology is an
ongoing process and consequently, FHWA started a rulemaking process to
update its national guidelines regarding planning and implementing work
zones.  On May 7, 2003, FHWA published a notice of a proposed
rulemaking and a request for public comments.  The proposed changes are
intended to facilitate consideration of the broader safety and mobility
impacts of work zones to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.  The
comment period closes on September 4, 2003 and a final rule is expected
to be released in 2004.

FHWA also researches how delays in construction highway projects can
be avoided. Through the Model Traffic Management Program, a self
evaluation guide was provided to 20 states to identify strengths and
weaknesses of their work zone activities.

In addition, FHWA funds research in the private sector for
long-lasting roadway materials and structures.  A successful example of
this type of research is the Superpave technology.  This highly
acclaimed asphalt technology makes asphalt pavements perform better and
last longer — even under temperature extremes and heavy traffic loads. 
This research success is extremely important for our nation's roadways
since 90% of all paved highways in the United States are made with
asphalt pavement.

Education: FHWA is dedicated to improving public awareness and
providing technical training about work zone safety through a wide
array of activities such as:  clearinghouse web site; training courses
for federal, state, local and tribal highway engineers; conferences,
CDs; guidebooks; brochures (for the general public and highway
practitioners); bilingual safety public outreach materials; and press
events such as National Work Zone Awareness Week
The National Work
Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse is an example of a successful
educational outreach tool that reaches the public and the highway
community. Started in 1998 by FHWA and the American Road and
Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), this clearinghouse is the
first centralized, comprehensive work zone information resource.

To help younger drivers, FHWA produced Moving Safely Across America,
an interactive CD that has been distributed to 15,000 to driver
education teachers.  Part of this CD includes information on how to
safely drive through work zones.  FHWA is producing innovative tools
and new materials for increasing WZ safety awareness and safe driving
tips for teens.  These will be packaged into toolkits for driving
instructors and parents for the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year.

FHWA provides work zone training courses for highway engineers. 
Also, for the technical highway safety community, FHWA distributes a
Best Practices Guidebook that highlights good work zone practices of
state transportation agencies throughout the United States, and
Quickzone, a software decision making tool that helps engineers improve
work zone safety and mobility.  In the fall of 2003, FHWA will publish
a Traffic Control Handbook for Mobile Operations At Night that will
detail guidance for nighttime construction, maintenance and utility
operations. 

Finally, FHWA has a database on recent work zone-related research,
development and technology transfer.  This compendium is updated on a
regular basis to provide roadway engineers with the newest research and
is available on CD.

Enforcement:  As part of our comprehensive safety program, FHWA
engineers work closely with state highway engineers and law enforcement
officials to identify appropriate engineering safety countermeasures
for high risk locations and for new roads. 

FHWA also works with the enforcement community, such as the
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), regarding the
effective use of uniformed police officers on federal-aid highways. 
FHWA additionally works with emergency medical services, police and
fire organizations to ensure that public safety is maintained at high
levels and access for emergency vehicles is possible during work zone
operations.            

Finally, speed enforcement is a safety concern in work zones and law
enforcement can't be located at every single work zone in the United
States. FHWA is funding research for a Variable Speed Limits (VSL)
Demonstration Project in Maryland work zones.The VSL technology
determines appropriate speeds for work zones and changes them when
conditions changes.  This demonstration project will analyze variations
in speed and accompanying driver behavior (i.e. abruptly hitting the
brakes). Similar projects funded by FHWA are underway in Michigan and
Virginia.

Partnership Activities: FHWA believes that partnerships create
synergy and are very important to improving work zone safety.  FHWA is
one of the founding partners of the annual National Work Zone Awareness
Week held every year in April.  Through a large network of government
and industry partners, including the other two founding partners AASHTO
and ATSSA, this week of national, state and local public activities
seeks to raise public consciousness about the need for driving safely
in work zones.

FHWA and ATSSA partnered to develop the Basic Traffic Control for
Utility Operations manual, which provides a quick reference to utility
companies working temporary traffic control. It includes guidelines
regarding accessibility for individual with disabilities which are in
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

FHWA is also a partner in the AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan
(SHSP). The goal is to reduce the annual number of highway deaths by
9,000 by 2008 to a rate of 1.0 (down from the current rate of 1.5). 
This will be accomplished through improved safety in 22 key areas
concerning infrastructure, vehicles, drivers, and emergency medical
services.  FHWA's role is that of providing national leadership,
direction, and the development and demonstration of new safety
innovations, technologies, and programs. 

Who Is Responsible for Work Zone Safety?

Everyone. 
We all are responsible for driving, walking, and biking, safely through
work zones.  The engineers and planners have the responsibility to make
sure the work zone is designed and operating properly -- with safety in
mind.  Drivers and pedestrians have the responsibility to always be
alert and obey the traffic laws.  Passengers should always buckle up
and act responsibly. The police and the courts have the responsibility
to make sure that the traffic and work zone laws are enforced.  Public
safety agencies have the responsibility of responding to and securing
crash locations and enforcing traffic laws. Local communities and
county and state governments need to allocate funding for safe roads
and increase public awareness about work zone safety.  Everyone should
take responsibility for work zone safety.

10 Tips for Driving Safely in Work Zones

EXPECT
THE UNEXPECTED!  (Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may
be changed, and people may be working on or near the road.)
SLOW DOWN!  (Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes.)
DON'T
TAILGATE!  KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAR AHEAD OF YOU. 
(The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear end
collision, so leave two car lengths between you and the car in front of
you.  So, don't tailgate.)
KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT.
PAY
ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS! (The warning signs are there to help you and
other drivers move safely through the work zone. Observe the posted
signs until you see the one that says you've left the work zone.)
OBEY
ROAD CREW FLAGGERS!  (The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic
safely in the work zone.  A flagger has the same authority as a
regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying his or her
directions.)
STAY ALERT AND MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS! (Dedicate your
full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or
using cell phones while driving in a work zone.
KEEP UP WITH THE
TRAFFIC FLOW.  (Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted
speeds by merging as soon as possible.  Don't drive right up to the
lane closure and then try barge in.)
SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIME TO DRIVE
SAFELY AND CHECK RADIO, TV AND WEBSITES FOR TRAFFIC INFORMATION.
(Expect delays and leave early so you can reach your destination on
time.  Check the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse - 
for information on work zone delays throughout the country.)
BE
PATIENT AND STAY CALM.  (Work zones aren't there to personally
inconvenience you.  Remember, the work zone crew members are working to
improve the road and make your future drive better.)
11/03/03

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