In 2019, Maricopa County, Arizona, was testing new technology to make roads safer for motorists and transportation workers. The new technology connected vehicles and surrounding infrastructure, allowing them all to communicate.
In an emergency, first responder vehicles send an alert to infrastructure, and the infrastructure alerts traffic signals and surrounding vehicles to an emergency on the roadways.
Watch the following episode of APWA Roving Reporter to see the technology in action.
Maricopa County did not stop with connected vehicles. It is now implementing a Smarter Work Zone initiative to combat high numbers of accidents involving pedestrians and work zone workers. The initiative has three goals:
- Safety: Improve speed limit compliance through work zones; thus, reducing the number of accidents in work zones.
- Mobility: Improve travel time reliability (alternate routes); thus, reducing queues resulting from the work zone.
- Assess feasibility for arterial roads.
To improve safety, provide alternate routes, and assess feasibility of alternate routes, the design of the project must have five role-specific spots along the road:
- Inform: Inform drivers of work zone conditions and alternate routes.
- Advise: Advise drivers of work zone conditions.
- Warn: Warn drivers of work zone conditions and change speed assignment.
- Check: Gather speed feedback from vehicles.
- Stand-alone detection: Collect traffic data on perpendicular road.
Public works employees should never be in danger when working on our roads, and drivers should always have information when entering a work zone. Maricopa County’s initiatives use data to change driver behavior and improve the safety of workers. The initiative is proof that workers and drivers can operate safely together; and relaying information is the key to success.
