Agency TRANSPORTATION DEPT

Contractor University of Minnesota

SWIFT Contract Number 78975

Project Name Examining the Impact of ASE in Work Zones on Drive

Project Number (if applicable) 99008 W152

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: Each year, over 100 road construction workers in the U.S. are killed in work zones (National Safety Council (NSC), 2011). Furthermore, there were 87,606 crashes in U.S. work zones in 2010, 525 of those crashes were fatal (FARS, 2011). Driver inattention contributes to approximately half of all work zone crashes and worker strikes (NSC, 2011). More work can be done to develop countermeasures against work zone crashes, especially those resulting from inattention. Previous research has examined the impact of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) on driver speed behaviors; however, little has been done to examine ASE¿s impact on other behaviors, like attention or seatbelt use. Capturing the attention of drivers through ASE may improve their awareness of workers on site, changing traffic conditions, or hazards in the environment. This research proposes to examine driver attentional patterns as motorists travel through work zones and the impact that ASE may have on driver attention.
The objectives are: (1) determine if the application of ASE in work zones improve driver attention, (2) determine if other alternative methods of speed control and enforcement (e.g. law enforcement presence, dynamic speed signs) have an impact on driver attention, and (3) better understand where drivers naturally tend place their attention in the visual environment while navigating work zones.

Project Duration

Start Date Fri, 06/06/2014 - 00:00

Original end date Sun, 01/31/2016 - 00:00

Actual end date Sun, 01/31/2016 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $218660.00

Amendments $0.00

Contract total $218660.00

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? TH

Is this a sole source contract? No

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) {Empty}

Evaluator Name Ken Johnson

Evaluator Email Address ken.johnson@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness GOOD

Evaluate the contractor's quality GOOD

Evaluate the contractor's cost Appropriate for the level of work

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance The contractor did a good job with a challenging research goal. Human factors is really the only way to evaluate how drivers will behave within the vehicle.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): {Empty}

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied