Summary of Treatments to Improve Work Zone Speed Limit Compliance

This is the summary report of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) sponsored Project 0-4707: Development of Measures for Motivating Drivers to Comply with Speed Limits in Work Zones. The goal of Project 0-4707 was to determine effective measures to motivate and encourage drivers to observe posted speed limits in work zones by:
– evaluating traditional measures including speed limit enforcement and traffic control devices,
– identifying new technologies that may be suitable for work zones,
– field-testing two to three promising devices, and
– developing guidelines for recommended work zone designs based on literature review and field testing.
The research team completed three major tasks: an extensive review of previous studies and current practices, a survey of Department of Transportation personnel within Texas and in other states, and the field testing of three devices (orange-border speed limit signs, speed display trailer, and portable changeable message sign with radar) to determine their effectiveness on work zone speed limit compliance. Findings from analysis of field data and recommendations are provided.