MOWZES’ research projects address the safety of multiple modes, including passenger vehicles, commercial motor vehicles (i.e., large trucks, buses), and vulnerable road users (pedestrians, people with disabilities, bicyclists). Topics of the projects are:

• Theme 1: Emerging Technologies – developing a modular architecture for smart work zone (SWZ) deployments; integration of autonomous truck mounted attenuators (ATMA) into SWZ operations; and developing lighting and delineation criteria for autonomous vehicle navigation in work zones.
• Theme 2: Data and Tools – developing machine learning algorithms to predict crash risk in work zones; developing crash modification factors (CMFs) for work zone countermeasures; optimizing infrastructure condition assessment tools to improve safety; and analysis of socioeconomic inequalities in work zone crashes.
• Theme 3: Worker Safety – evaluating distraction-reducing effects of portable rumble strips; testing a situational awareness system for workers; and evaluating countermeasures addressing speed differentials at workspace access points.
• Theme 4: Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) – evaluating strategies for communicating work zone accommodations to VRUs; and developing criteria and standards for providing temporary transit facilities during road work.

Taken together, the projects address the following key challenges identified by the US DOT for the Promoting Safety priority area: vulnerable users, safety culture and behavior, infrastructure condition assessment, human-machine interactions, vehicle and workforce safety, automated and connected vehicles, and rural transportation safety. The five strategic objectives aimed at enhancing safety have direct relevance to saving lives in work zones.

• Safe Public objective calls for solutions that will reduce speeding and distraction – two key contributors to fatal crashes in work zones. Driver behavior and behavioral countermeasures will be investigated in projects in multiple MOWZES themes.
• Safe Workers objective emphasizes the promotion of best practices in work zone safety through increased training and technical assistance. MOWZES’ workforce development and technology transfer activities address this objective.
• Safe Design objective calls for updating roadway design standards and regulatory and policy tools that will reduce fatalities and injuries, including in work zones. MOWZES projects in Themes 1, 3, and 4 will support this objective.
• Safe Systems objective emphasizes the use of data-driven decision-making, and a holistic Safe System approach. MOWZES projects will develop novel decision-making tools in Theme 2 to implement the Safe System approach for work zones.
• Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity objective explores better ways to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities. MOWZES team will conduct a thorough cybersecurity assessment of all SWZ technologies and emerging technologies that will be piloted and evaluated in the research projects.