Use of Police in Work Zones on Highways in Virginia

It is generally accepted that one of the most effective ways of controlling speed in a work zone is to have a staffed police car positioned at the beginning of the work zone with its lights flashing and radar on. Drivers detect the presence of police either visually or via radar detectors and reduce their speed to comply with the posted work zone speed limit. The reduced speeds and reduced variation in speeds result in fewer accidents and minimize dangerous interactions between vehicles and work zone workers and equipment. A number of studies support these observations.