01558905

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2485-09

Transportation professionals view the setting of appropriate regulatory speed limits on public roads, including those under repair or reconstruction, as an important tool in promoting safe and efficient operations. The Ohio Department of Transportation sponsored a study to evaluate its work zone speed zoning processes. Researchers observed motorists’ speed choices upstream of and adjacent to several combinations of work zone conditions and factors that were used to justify reduced speed limits in Ohio work zones. Researchers also observed motorists’ speed choices upstream of and within pilot variable work zone speed zones. Researchers confirmed that motorists reduced their speed only if they clearly perceived a need to do so. Therefore, whenever possible, the first work zone speed limit sign should be installed within view of a work zone condition. In general, the speed reduction downstream of the first nonvariable and variable work zone speed limit signs ranged from 1 to 6 mph and 3 to 11 mph, respectively. In addition, researchers found that the speed reduction on entering a lane shift, within a lane closure, and on entering a median crossover ranged from 4 to 15 mph. On the basis of previous research and the results of the studies documented in this paper, the research team developed work zone speed zone guidelines for multilane highways with original posted speed limits greater than or equal to 55 mph. Researchers also made recommendations for where variable work zone speed zoning should be considered.

01577149

15-3214

English

pp 70–77

2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309295826

Print

Figures (2) ; References (22) ; Tables (4)

85th percentile speed; Drivers; Regulation; Speed limits; Variable speed limits; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control

Ohio

Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 1:05PM

• Approaches to Adaptive Lighting on Roadways
• Development of Freeway and Interchange Safety Performance Functions with Respect to Roadway Lighting: A Pilot Study
• Evaluation of Mobile Work Zone Alarm Systems
• Exploration of Work Zone Crash Causes and Implications for Safety Performance Measurement Programs
• Improved Business Driveway Channelizing Treatments in Work Zones
• Innovative Work Zone Capacity Models from Nationwide Field and Archival Sources
• Investigating Maximum Intensities for Yellow Rapid-Flashing Beacons at Night
• Relationship Between Roadway Illuminance Level and Nighttime Rural Intersection Safety
• Speed Control Method for Highway Tunnel Safety Based on Visual Illusion