Data analysis for driving pattern identification and driver\u27s behavior modeling in a freeway work zone

A variety of methods are used by Departments of Transportation (DOT) for informing drivers about upcoming work zones. One such method is work zone signage configuration. Signage plays an important role in work zones to provide guidance to drivers when conditions on the road vary from normal. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of different configurations, by law, before implementation of new signage designs that deviate from the national standards. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is a compilation of national standards for all traffic control devices, including road markings, highway signs, and traffic signals. In the present work which is funded by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the safety effect of an alternative merge sign configuration provided by MoDOT is investigated in a freeway work zone. This investigation is based on a simulation study that involves a total of 75 study participants representing an overall distribution of drivers in the state of Missouri. This simulation study required the participants to experience four work zone configurations on a driving simulator. Right merge and left merge scenarios were simulated for two work zone sign configurations, one being the national standard from MUTCD and the other being an alternate work zone sign configuration proposed by MoDOT. The objective of this study is to establish the effectiveness of both these configurations by data analyses. Results of the statistical analysis indicate that MUTCD left merge was significantly different than the driving patterns for the other three scenarios. There was significant difference between MUTCD left merge and MoDOT alternate left merge but no dramatic differences were observed for the right merge scenarios --Abstract, page iii