ITS Concept of Operations: Distracted Drivers Approaching or Within a Work Zone

Safety is Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)’s top priority as demonstrated in the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) initiative to lower the number of traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths occurring on Minnesota roads. In the state of Minnesota, 21 severe crashes occur in work zones per year on average statewide. A significant number of crashes occurring in work zones involve an inattentive driver. Since 2011, inattentive drivers have been involved in 30.1% of severe crashes in work zones in Minnesota. This is the second highest focus area identified in the 2014 Minnesota Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Distracted, or inattentive, drivers entering a work zone are a liability to workers present, nearby vehicles and themselves. The Stakeholders have identified a need to have a system that would increase awareness of drivers traversing a work zone. MnDOT is working to enhance safety in work zones and to reduce severe crashes related to distracted driving. This Concept of Operations provides a foundation for defining a problem, clearly describes the characteristics of the system to address the issues, and details ways of improving the current systems in place. It documents the needs of the noted stakeholder groups, describes an operational concept from a stakeholder perspective, outlines systems components, and presents common operational scenarios for identifying distracted drivers, and alerting drivers as well as workers to potential dangers.