An Analysis of Factors that Affect Work Zone Crash Severity
Disciplines
Transportation Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Roadway work zones pose a significant threat to the lives of both motorists and construction workers, by changing the route of a roadway and having workers operate close to moving vehicles. With driving culture varying from state to state in the US, analyzing crash data from a particular region is the most effective way to determine what causes severe work zone crashes. This study investigates five factors that may contribute to the injury severity of work zone crashes in the state of Georgia: Speed limit, time of day, average annual daily traffic (AADT), number of lanes, and manner of collision. Using Georgia work zone crash data from 2019-2023, this study cross-analyzes each factor with KABCO injury severity. Using a chi-squared test, it was found that all factors are significantly correlated to the severity of work zone crashes. The manner of collision had the highest chi-squared value, indicating that it is the most significant out of the factors considered in regard to influencing the crash severity. Based on the results, it is recommended to implement median break-away barriers in work zones to reduce head on collisions with oncoming traffic and to force motorists to slow down to navigate the constricted roadway. In addition, using reflective cones and speed monitoring displays may help drivers navigate and slow down on roadways in darker conditions when the chance for fatal crashes is heightened.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Sunanda Dissanayake
An Analysis of Factors that Affect Work Zone Crash Severity
Roadway work zones pose a significant threat to the lives of both motorists and construction workers, by changing the route of a roadway and having workers operate close to moving vehicles. With driving culture varying from state to state in the US, analyzing crash data from a particular region is the most effective way to determine what causes severe work zone crashes. This study investigates five factors that may contribute to the injury severity of work zone crashes in the state of Georgia: Speed limit, time of day, average annual daily traffic (AADT), number of lanes, and manner of collision. Using Georgia work zone crash data from 2019-2023, this study cross-analyzes each factor with KABCO injury severity. Using a chi-squared test, it was found that all factors are significantly correlated to the severity of work zone crashes. The manner of collision had the highest chi-squared value, indicating that it is the most significant out of the factors considered in regard to influencing the crash severity. Based on the results, it is recommended to implement median break-away barriers in work zones to reduce head on collisions with oncoming traffic and to force motorists to slow down to navigate the constricted roadway. In addition, using reflective cones and speed monitoring displays may help drivers navigate and slow down on roadways in darker conditions when the chance for fatal crashes is heightened.