Publication Details

An analysis of speeding and speed-related crashes in North Carolina work zones

Type: Paper

Author(s): Huang, Herman F.; Hunter, William W.

Publisher: UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Publication Date: Dec-2000

Address: Chapel Hill, NC

Abstract: A recent analysis of crash data in North Carolina revealed that 33 percent of all crashes and 44 percent of fatal crashes are speed-related, i.e., speed was indicated as a contributing factor for at least one of the drivers involved. Speeding is present in work zone crashes as well, especially on primary highways. Lower speed limits commonly apply in work zones, where motorists often encounter narrower travel lanes, uneven pavement, and the presence of workers and their equipment. To combat speeding in work zones, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) uses signs such as GIVE 'EM A BRAKE and signs indicating substantial speeding fines. Crash situations that may be likely in work zones include motor vehicles striking fixed objects (e.g., temporary barriers, crash cushions, barricades, and orange barrels), workers or construction vehicles, as well as vehicle-to-vehicle rear-end and lane-changing I merging collisions. Overall, about 48 percent of crashes on roads under construction involved speeding. A breakdown by road class reveals that more than half of the crashes on Interstates and US routes under construction involved speeding (Table 1).