RSF In the News

RSF Comments on Proposed Work Zone Safety Rule

The Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) has submitted comments on the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Advance Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on work zone safety on June 5.

RSF's submission stated that there is an immediate need for a new national policy promoting improved mobility and safety in highway and construction maintenance work zones, and recommended that the policy be incorporated into a regulation. Furthermore, RSF noted that the current regulations are not adequate, and stated that several sections of 23 CFR 630, subpart J are too broad and vague.

RSF recommended that clearer, more uniform, and more comprehensive standards should be developed

a) to maintain full lane capacity during peak travel periods;
b) to provide positive barrier protection at all times during construction;
c) to enable the work space to be expanded during off peak periods; d) to establish entry and exit procedures for supply vehicles,
e) to develop provisions for alternative project scheduling and staging construction to minimize traffic disruption;
f) to establish stringent standards for minimum levels of retroreflectivity on signs, barriers, channelizing devices and pavement markings; and
g) to ensure that workers wear high-visibility safety garments that meet industry standards for conspicuity. RSF also pointed out that specific requirements already exist for environmental and contracting procedures in the Federal-aid Highway Program, thus it would be appropriate to promulgate a regulation to protect the lives of road users and workers in work zone areas.

Among other recommendations, the RSF also suggested that better data collection and more uniform reporting of accident statistics could help to identify work zone problems. It also said that safety could be enhanced by developing a uniform, national definition for the term "work zone." At present, there are several definitions for work zones which differ in length and degree of detail. RSF said, "A national definition, combined with an effective outreach program designed to educate the law enforcement community, emergency medical providers, maintenance and other road uses, would greatly assist in better data collection and facilitate better identification and implementation of corrective measures."

The RSF submission was drafted by Advisory Committee Chairman Jim Keaton and approved by the Advisory Committee. The complete text of RSF's response to the proposed rulemaking is available in the Publications section at: www.roadwaysafety.org.