The Variance Analysis of Factors Affected Traffic Safety in Highway Work Zones

Highway work zones result in descent of road capacity and traffic-jam for part of lanes closed, and all of that would create safety concern. On the basis of crashes data which classified by different factors in Virginia highway work zones, the data that work zone crash levels and entire highway crash levels are analyzed with One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS. The data analysis in this study involved two major steps. First, identify the prominent variable that followed too closely and other 7 significant variables. Then, the 7 significant variables, corresponding entire highway crash levels and the prominent variant form 7 triple tables. One-way ANOVA is used to identify the secondary prominent factors such as lane change, speed too fast and inattentive drive. At last, investigate all the prominent variables using Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), and distinguish the relationship between different crashes type and drive behavior. The result of this study will provide theoretical basis for work zone safety guarantee technology. Owing to long-term operation or natural disaster, highway system will appear different degree of functions reduced and facility impaired. Numbers of work zones appeared to guarantee road normal operation. The major effect of work zones is descent road capacity for lane closure, which results in traffic-jam and delay and creating safety concern. In America, more than 700 fatal crashes happened, about 24000 injury crashes and 52000 property damages only due to crashes.