Work Zone End of Queue Study
Research designed to understand which traffic control measures are most effective in reducing the frequency / occurrence / severity of injuries at end of queue road work sites. The research will be undertaken by Deakin University.
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Background
Transport for NSW is partnering with Deakin University on this research. The research is designed to develop an evidence base to understand which traffic control measures are most effective in reducing the frequency / occurrence / severity of injuries at end of queue road work sites.
Road works pose significant risks to roadworkers and motorists alike. While the risks are recognised by agencies involved in road construction and maintenance activities, significant work is needed to develop strategies to mitigate these risks at Australian roadwork sites.
Existing research from Australia and international jurisdictions show that rear end crashes at advance warning areas, particularly at end of queue situations, are one of the major types of crashes at roadwork sites. In an Australian Road Research Board study conducted in 2018 all reported crashes in NSW between 2013 and 2017 were analysed by crash type and location. Considering the crash data by location (ie. roadwork zone or other), 40% of crashes related to roadwork zones were rear-end crashes.
Delving further into the degree and impact of crashes related to roadwork zones tended to be higher severity crashes compared to crashes occurring in other locations. This may be in part related to a greater percentage of crashes related to roadwork zones occurring on rural roads, with higher speed limits, and thus higher impact speeds (Australian Road Research Board, 2019). As the end of queue locations can vary depending on traffic volumes and number of vehicles stopped in a queue, researchers and practitioners have developed, tested, and evaluated a range of treatment options.
Objectives
Findings of this project will provide valuable insights for making roadwork sites safer for motorists and road workers alike.
Updates
Further updates will be provided as this project progresses.
This research is being delivered in partnership with iMOVE CRC and supported by the Cooperative Research Centres program, an Australian Government initiative.
Reference:
Australian Road Research Board. (2019). 'Rear-end crashes in roadwork zones'. Unpublished.