Evaluation of rear-end crash risk at work zone using work zone traffic data

Area of Science:

• Traffic Safety Engineering
• Transportation Research
• Accident Analysis

Background:

• Rear-end collisions are a significant safety concern in highway work zones.
• Understanding contributing factors is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate rear-end crash risk in work zone activity and merging areas.
• To analyze the impact of various factors on rear-end crash risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized work zone traffic data from Singapore.
• Developed four rear-end crash risk models, employing the deceleration rate to avoid the crash (DRAC) metric.
• Employed ANOVA to assess differences in crash risk across lane positions.

Main Results:

• Rear-end crash risk at work zone activity areas varies significantly by lane position.
• Increased risk is associated with higher percentages of heavy vehicles and greater lane traffic flow rates.
• Lanes closer to the work zone exhibit a higher probability of rear-end crashes; trucks are more vulnerable than cars.
• Expressway work zones present a higher crash risk compared to arterial work zones.
• Early merging behavior significantly reduces crash risk in work zone merging areas.

Conclusions:

• Lane position, traffic flow, vehicle composition, and work zone type are key determinants of rear-end crash risk.
• Encouraging early merging is a highly effective strategy for mitigating crash risks in work zone merging areas.