Analysis of traffic safety at road works.

Road works create a risk, both to road workers and drivers. SWOV conducted research into 58 severe crashes to gain more insight into the causes of crashes at work zones. Finally, 50 work-zones were visited to obtain more insight into (1) the extent to which the Dutch guidelines for safe road works are applied and (2) work zone characteristics that cause potential unsafe situations. From the study on recent crashes it was found that in the Netherlands, 166 severe crashes occurred at road works in 2005. This accounts for about 2% of all severe crashes. Furthermore, this percentage has increased over the last two decades. Highways show a relatively high percentage of crashes at road works and lorries are relatively often involved incrashes at road works. From the analysis of the charges it is found that on urban roads, the high percentage of crashes involving lorries can be explained by the involvement of road works vehicles that collide with pedestrians or cyclists. The characteristics of other crashes at urban roads do not differ greatly from the characteristics of crashes under 'normal circumstances'. On rural roads and highways, relatively many head-tail crashes occur at road works. These crashes often occur at the tail of the traffic jam that is due to the road works. Also crashes with parked vehicles and objects lying on the road relatively often occur at road works on highways and rural roads. It was found that these are crashes with vehicles and material that are involved in the road works. Of the 58 crashes for which the data were analysed, 20 would most probably also have happened without road works. Almost none of the visited work zones met all guidelines. However, often work zones show only small deviations from the guidelines, like the lacking of one sign in the alternative route. Furthermore, road closures in urban areas are in some cases inadequate and sometimes there is a lack of clarity about the way cyclists and/or pedestrians should act. This can explain the crashes involving bicyclists or pedestrians and road works vehicles. The main lesson learnt is that at work zones, special attention should be paid to bicyclists and pedestrians. The guidelines discuss measures that should be taken, but they are often not followed entirely. Where cyclists are able to pass the road closure they will. Therefore, it is advisable to take other measures for bicyclists if possible. Furthermore, in case it is really necessary to close the road for bicyclists as well, it should be done in such a way that it is impossible for them to pass the roadclosure. Finally, it should be clear for all road users what behaviour isexpected from them. For the covering abstract see ITRD E14599