The International Road Federation (IRF Global) released a new policy statement last week that calls for the establishment of national road construction safety guidelines, among other efforts meant to foster a greater safety culture.
The organization desires to tackle the inherent dangers of road work zones — sites that, according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), led to 25,485 injury-inducing crashes in 2015 alone. IRF Global is especially concerned for the developing world, where safe road construction efforts are even less likely to match the pace of development, leading to dangers for construction workers and drivers alike.
“Infrastructure is aging across the globe and must be maintained to preserve its value,” Chris Sanders, Lindsay Transportation Solutions and Chairman of the IRF Road Safety Committee, said. “However, these work zones offer much more dangerous driving conditions and increase danger to workers and motorists. Solutions exist, but their use is hindered without comprehensive policies and consistent implementation.”
To that end, the organization’s Mandating Safer Work Zones Globally statement put out a call for national road construction safety guidelines, the use of temporary traffic control devices, regular work zone inspections and investment in strengthening skills among public agencies and the community alike.
“To insure effective and sustainable temporary traffic control setups, authorities should include provisions in their national guidelines that mandate traffic control plan implementation, and that traffic control plans need to be part of the budget and funded,” Pete Johnson, chairman of the IRF Temporary Traffic Control Subcommittee, said.