Work Zone Safety tool for Commercial Motor Vehicle drivers: A description of Mobile App Prototype

Abstract: Work zone fatal crashes involving large trucks accounted for 33 percent of all such incidents in 2021 (FMCSA 2021). Adverse weather conditions such as fog, smoke, smog, and roadway design factors have also been identified as contributors to crashes involving large vehicles (FMCSA, 2018; Hallmark et al., 2011). Hazards related to lane maintenance, merging signs, and control devices further compound large vehicles' risks. Late merging behavior and sudden braking near work zone lane closures are identified as safety risks leading to increased crashes. Implementing various safety countermeasures to enhance motorist awareness can potentially decrease crash rates. One of the measures would be giving CMV drivers their route and associated work zone information before their journey. The authors develop a Work Zone Mobile App prototype to help CMV drivers safely drive near work zones. This paper is a descriptive presentation of the prototype that will help CMV drivers navigate work zones safely, instilling a sense of hope for improved work zone safety. The prototype of the secure and dedicated desktop/mobile navigation application contains three modules connected to one central server. The provider module works on gathering work zone and associated information and stores in the server in an encrypted version for security under associated siloes. The user module uses the navigation section where routes and alternatives are suggested based on conflicts accumulated in the central repository. Lastly, the administrative module provides dashboard support to transportation management centers for monitoring, optimizing performance, emergency management and optimal resource utilization.