Spatial distribution and characteristics of accident crashes at work zones of interstate freeways in Ohio

In this paper, we identify the spatial distribution and characteristics of fatal and injury crashes at different work zone locations on interstate freeways in Ohio within the last three (3) years. Work zone accident data obtained from the Ohio Department of Public Safety and Ohio Department of Transportation from year 2001 through 2003 has provided necessary information for the analysis. The study provides an insight on fatal and injury crashes at different locations within work zones. Concentrating only on fatal and injury crashes allowed for evaluation of the predominant factors that are responsible for these types of crashes. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in the proportion of fatal and injury crashes as well as rear-end crashes at different locations within a work zone. The activity area comes out to be the most dangerous area in a work zone and safety efforts must be concentrated on this area to improve the work zone safety. Predominance of rear-end crashes at all locations within a work zone indicates a high speed variance. Any countermeasures to reduce the speed variance will definitely improve the work zone safety