The Obstacle Course: Pedestrians in Highway Work Zones

There has been an increased awareness of the safety problems associated with highway work zones among traffic professionals and government agencies during the past several years. For the most part, attention has been focused on motorist safety, while pedestrian safety has been virtually ignored. Federal, state, and local manuals do not adequately address the issue of pedestrian accommodation and safety in highway work zones. There are currently no well-defined techniques, standards, or practices that pertain to pedestrian control and safety in work zones. Traffic-control plans for maintenance of traffic through work zones are prepared primarily for vehicular traffic and make rare reference to pedestrians. Inadequate pedestrian accommodation in work zones forces pedestrians to choose their own paths and fight through construction areas full of debris and other obstructions. Pedestrian accommodation and safety in work zones deserve careful attention. Guidelines for accommodating pedestrians should be developed at the federal level and preferably included in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for proper implementation and uniform compliance. A concerted effort to improve pedestrian safety in work zones is highly desirable. Pedestrians should be afforded the same rights and privileges enjoyed by vehicles that pass through construction zones.