Control issues

July 19, 2002

For workers in the transportation construction industry, going to work every day invites the potential for harm to themselves and others. In the year 2000, over 1,000 people lost their lives to traffic accidents in work zones. In a typical year, about 80% of those killed are motorists, but the list also includes work-zone crew members, pedestrians, law enforcement professionals, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and others who put their lives on the line daily to meet America’s demands for roadway infrastructure.

For workers in the transportation construction industry, going to work every day invites the potential for harm to themselves and others. In the year 2000, over 1,000 people lost their lives to traffic accidents in work zones. In a typical year, about 80% of those killed are motorists, but the list also includes work-zone crew members, pedestrians, law enforcement professionals, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and others who put their lives on the line daily to meet America’s demands for roadway infrastructure.

This danger is inherent in the effort to make our roads safer and more efficient and to keep people and goods moving in America.

However, the risk of harm can be minimized with careful applications of traffic control devices within the work zone. This article will discuss the most recent version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), focusing on traffic control in work zones and the differences between this version and the previous one, published in 1988.

Orderly fashion

The U.S. Department of Transportation publishes the MUTCD. A new Millennium Edition (also known as the 2000 MUTCD) became effective in early 2001. It is the eighth edition since the first publication in 1935, and it is completely rewritten compared to the previous version published in 1988. 

The purpose of the MUTCD is to promote highway safety and efficiency by providing for the orderly movement of all road users on streets and highways throughout the nation. The manual is the national standard and federal law for the design and application of all traffic control devices.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has published the official version of the manual on its web-site (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov). Use of web technology allows the FHWA to make information about manual changes available to transportation professionals immediately after they are accepted and approved. A glance at the MUTCD website shows that updates and clarifications have already been incorporated into the Millennium Edition. The site also provides an up-to-date reference source for other persons interested in information on proper traffic control and operations.

Printed copies of the Millennium Edition can be purchased through the national transportation associations—the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (www.aashto.org); the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA, www.atssa.org); and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (www.ite.org). At about 2,200 pages, some may find the written version of the entire document inconvenient. To help navigate through the manual, the American Public Works Association has a searchable electronic version available for purchase on its website (www.apwa.net/shop/asp/home. asp).  Also, ATSSA has printed a separate bound document containing only Parts 1, 5 and 6 of the manual—the parts that address work-zone traffic control. Note, however, that these written copies will not contain the frequent updates that can be found on the FHWA’s MUTCD website.

Traffic control devices—signs, signals, pavement markings and others used to regulate, warn or guide road users—are crucial to the safe and efficient operation of America’s roadways. They become particularly important in work zones, where changing and unexpected roadway conditions make it crucial that road users are properly guided through the construction zone. The 2000 MUTCD contains important information on:

                Design of safer work zones;

                Appropriate signs to use under different work conditions; and

                Proper placement of signs and workers to best inform motorists of construction ahead. 

The most important part

There are 10 separate parts to the MUTCD. Part 6 of the manual is of particular interest to professionals involved in construction of transportation facilities.

This section, titled “Temporary Traffic Control,” contains important information, typical applications and graphics to help construction workers understand the applications of the various traffic control devices. It also serves to inform them of the proper placement and maintenance of these devices within work zones.

Part 5 of the manual, “Low-Volume Rural Roads,” addresses traffic control for roads with an average annual daily traffic flow of less than 400 vehicles. It contains work-zone information that applies specifically to less-used roads.

Temporarily unique

The title of Part 6 has changed from “Standards and Guides for Traffic Control for Street and Highway Construction, Maintenance, Utility, and Incident Management Operations” to the more succinct title “Temporary Traffic Control” to reflect the fact that temporary work zones involve unique traffic control conditions. Workers need to ensure their own safety and that of the road users, while getting the necessary work done and minimizing frustrating traffic delays.  

The Millennium Edition offers important new signs and markings for work zones. It also presents valuable information on devices used to protect workers and roadway users. Described below are some of the more significant changes in Part 6 that apply to construction zones:

                New information on the use of shadow vehicles, truck-mounted attenuators and other devices to improve worker safety;

                Guidance on flagging procedures and specifications for retroreflective clothing acceptable for flaggers and other road crew workers;

                A new channelizing device called a “direction indicator barricade.” This is a combination of typical barricade rails and a black-on-orange arrow sign. It provides clearer warnings and directions for lane closures;

                New sign mounting regulations requiring that, if a work-zone sign is to be in place for more than three days, it must be mounted on a crashworthy device; 

                New regulatory and warning signs.  Several of these signs appeared in the 1993 Typical Application diagrams, but there was no discussion of their proper use. These new signs are described and illustrated in the manual;

                Increased emphasis on pedestrians and bicyclists. The inclusion of pedestrians and bicyclists is one of the most important revisions to the MUTCD. Important information on the management of bicyclists through work zones has been added to Part 6. New safety standards and guidance that further enhance the protection afforded to pedestrians also have been added; and

                Enhanced discussion of utilization of portable changeable message signs. These devices are particularly effective in work zones where the messages communicated to motorists may vary throughout the work zone. The 2000 MUTCD provides detailed guidance on message flash rates, message content, acceptable abbreviations and placement of the devices.

These are just a few of the changes in Part 6 of the 2000 MUTCD. Employees working in transportation construction will find it useful to refer to the manual when planning and designing work zones. This will ensure they are aware of changes from previous editions and they know about new devices that are available and/or required to make the job safer.

Still experimenting

Finally, new research and experimentation continue to push traffic control devices in new directions that increase safety and mobility. Planned developments related to the MUTCD include: additional information on minimum levels of retroreflectivity for signs and markings; weather research on traffic control devices; and a new experimentation database that will be posted on the MUTCD website.

Of specific interest to employees in the construction industry is FHWA research that examines ways of increasing work-zone safety by improving the visual transmission of information from the work zone to the motorist. For example, a new color for signs used in incident management is being considered. This would allow motorists to differentiate between planned construction or maintenance work zones (identified by traditional orange-and-black signs) and temporary incident management work zones associated with major traffic incidents and other emergency situations, which would have signs with a different color scheme.

Next steps

Now that the Millennium Edition of the MUTCD is in effect, what impact does it have on jobs in the transportation construction industry?

First, it provides a common language for work crews to communicate with road users because of the uniformity of traffic control devices. This helps to ensure the safety and efficiency of the roadway system. It also minimizes driver confusion. 

Second, because of the numerous changes to the manual with this edition, it will be essential that employees working in transportation construction refer to it regularly, especially Part 6 which deals with traffic control devices for use in work zones. 

Hopefully, employees will find that the changes in this edition make it easier for them to do their job, and will better help manage traffic through work zones.

The manual officially became effective Jan. 17, 2001, replacing the 1988 edition. By January 2003, the Millennium Edition’s new provisions will become mandatory for all streets, highways and bicycle trails in the U.S. Individual states may adopt their own regulations for traffic control devices, provided they meet the minimum standards set by the FHWA’s document. Workers in the transportation construction industry should be aware that regulations may vary by state.

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