A Multiple Correspondence Approach to Identify Contributing Factors Related to Work Zone Crashes

Work zones are perilous locations that can interrupt normal traffic flow and cause safety problems for both drivers and construction workers. Each year, approximately 700 fatalities and 40,000 injuries are reported related to work zone crashes in the United States. As such, further in-depth investigation of characteristics of work zone-related crashes has been of long-standing interest in traffic safety. The main objective of this study is to investigate the key factors contributed to work zone crashes by using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). MCA is an extension of the Corresponding Analysis (CA) method, which identifies the pattern association between various categorical variables. In this study, a total of 8,232 work zone-related crash data in New Jersey from 2016 to 2018 were obtained and analyzed. Results showed factors such as the number of vehicles involved, lighting conditions, time of the crash, and crash type are the most significant contributing factors associated with work zone crashes. The findings of this study can help transportation professionals select the most efficient and effective countermeasures to mitigate the frequency and severity of work zone-related crashes.