Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

K1−2: Analysis of Work Zone Crash Data (New York)

DESCRIPTION:

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) compiles work zone fatalities and injury crashes based on type, area within the work zone, driver characteristic, and type of collision. This information is used to identify trends in driver behavior and work zone emphasis areas, as well as for reporting purposes to FHWA and NYSDOT in their Annual Report. The information is collected at the NYSDOT Regional level and collected and analyzed by the main office. The information is categorized in many ways including the following:

• Accident Category (fatal, hospital, minor, unknown)
• Accident Type (i.e., rear end, worker hit by vehicle, etc.)
• Work Zone Situation (i.e., alternating 1−way traffic, lane shift, etc.)
• Project Related Traffic Accidents at Flagger−Controlled Locations (i.e., head−on, sideswipe, etc.)
• Project Related Traffic Accidents Related to Project Type (i.e., bridge, pavement, maintenance, etc.)
• Project Related Traffic Accidents Related to Facility Type (principal arterial interstate, minor collector, etc.)
• Project Related Traffic Accidents Related to Driver Characteristics (age, sex, and locality)
• Project Related Traffic Accidents Related to Time of Day (daytime, nighttime, hourly, etc.)
• Accidents Involving DOT Employees (i.e., trip or fall, vehicle struck worker, etc.)
• Accidents Involving Consultant Employees
• Accidents Involving Contractor Employees (i.e., fall from elevated structure, work zone intrusion, etc.).

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

This practice is done to identify trends and develop countermeasures to reduce the deaths and injuries associated with the accidents.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Reduced fatalities and injuries as a result of the countermeasures.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

All New York State Department of Transportation projects.

STATE(S) WHERE UTILIZED:

New York

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Chuck Riedel, New York State DOT
Telephone: (518) 457−2185
E−mail: criedel@gw.dot.state.ny.us