Abstract
To improve work zone safety by replacing human flaggers, a new Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD) developed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) was investigated through field and driving simulator studies. The MoDOT AFAD configuration, including STOP/SLOW paddles, Red/Yellow lights, and a changeable message sign, was incorporated into a truck-mounted attenuator. Driver behavior measures were collected to compare the effectiveness of the MoDOT AFAD, its alternative designs, and human flaggers. In the field study, the MoDOT AFAD was able to slow vehicle approach speeds and stop vehicles farther back than flaggers. In the driving simulator study, the MoDOT AFAD and its alternative designs significantly reduced average approach speeds and increased the distance between completely stopped vehicles and the AFAD/flagger. Surveys conducted after each study showed that drivers understood the AFAD well and preferred it over flaggers, especially the MoDOT AFAD configuration. Overall, this case study demonstrated that the AFAD has the potential to improve the safety of work zones and workers.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 145 • Issue 12 • December 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 22, 2018
Accepted: Mar 21, 2019
Published online: Sep 18, 2019
Published in print: Dec 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Feb 18, 2020
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