Technology in Rural Transportation, “Simple Solution” #7 – Lane Drop Driver Awareness

Lane drops occur as a result of restricting roadways caused by construction work or other planned or unplanned events. When vehicles fail to merge in a timely fashion, delays or traffic accidents often occur. This simple solution uses advance warnings to calm the traffic and induce smoother transitions into limited lane areas. This application was identified as a promising rural Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) solution under a project sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the ENTERPRISE program. This summary describes the solution as well as opportunities for expansion into the broader context of rural ITS.