You are on page 1of 2

Most Common Types of Crashes by Work Zone Area

Trucking
Legend
Most Common
Types of Crashes
by Work Zone Area
Safely
The No-Zone
area around
a large truck
Termination
Area
lets traffic Rear End
Through
Work Zones
resume
Work Zone
normal Fixed Object
Direction of Travel operations
Traffic Signs
Work Space
Channelizing Devices
(Cones, Drums, Barricades)

Rear End
Activity Area
is where work Fixed Object
Traffic Space
allows traffic
takes place Angle
to pass through
the activity area
Head On*

Rear End
Transition Area
moves traffic out
Fixed Object
of normal path Angle

Advance
Warning Area Rear End
tells traffic what to
Truck driver expect ahead Fixed Object
cannot see
vehicle in
no-zone *Normally occurs in activity area
with two-way traffic operations

Large truck drivers should use extra caution in the http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/wsz.htm


Safety
merge areas and get in the correct lane well in practices for
advance of the lane closure. One-third of all
crashes between large trucks and cars happen in
drivers of
the danger areas around the truck. These danger large trucks
U.S. Department
areas, known as the No-Zone, are along the sides,
of Transportation
front, and rear of trucks where the driver cannot Federal Highway
see, even with the best mirrors. Administration FHWA-SA-03-010
Creating Safer Work Zones:
Improving Operations on Both Sides of the Barrel
The Difference Between The Facts About Fatalities in Work Zone Crashes
Involving Large Trucks
Large Trucks And Cars Work Zone Crashes 300
Involving Large Trucks

Number of Fatalities
The stopping distance required for a large truck 200
traveling at 55 mph is almost 50 percent greater Angle, rear-end, and head-on collisions are the
than that needed for a car. most common types of work zone crashes involv- 100
ing large trucks.
Car Truck 0
2001
HOW many occur? 1997 1998 1999 2000

• Almost 30 percent of all work zone crashes


involve large trucks.
40mph • The number of people killed in work zone Safety Practices For
36% farther crashes involving large trucks has been increas-
ing. Over 1,000 fatalities and over 18,000
Drivers of Large Trucks
injuries have occurred during the last 5 years. Work zones often result in narrow lanes, merging,
shifting lanes, slowing and stopping traffic,
WHEN do they happen? unexpected work vehicles entering the traffic flow,
55mph temporary speed limit adjustments, flaggers in the
49% farther • 65 percent of fatal work zone crashes involving
roadway, confused drivers, and other disruptions.
large trucks occur during the day.
• Always wear your safety belt.
• Six times as many fatal work zone crashes
involving large trucks occur on Monday through • Pay attention to the signs.
Friday (the weekdays) compared to Saturday • Adhere to instructions by the flagger.
65mph and Sunday (the weekend).
66% farther • Leave enough space between you and the
WHERE do they take place? vehicle in front of you to stop safely.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 • About 60 percent of fatal work zone crashes • Take advantage of your driving height and
Total Stopping Distance (feet) involving large trucks take place on divided anticipate braking situations.
roads. • Be prepared to slow down or stop suddenly in
Estimates are for 80,000 lb. loaded, tractor-trailers and
mid-size passenger cars traveling on a dry, level road. • Over 70 percent of fatal work zone crashes a work zone.
Source: National Safety Council involving large trucks occur on level roadways. • Get into the correct lane well in advance of
• Almost 90 percent of fatal work zone crashes lane closures.
involving large trucks occur on straight roads. • Be cautious of motorists racing to get ahead of
you in merge areas.
• Be aware of your No-Zone areas where crashes
are more likely to occur.
• Avoid work zones by using alternate routes
where possible.

You might also like