Road Works Warning II

Background, problem and current situation 

Accidents at road works cause both human suffering, costly damage and traffic disruptions. Despite strict regulations and physical protective measures, buffer vehicles are regularly struck and road workers are exposed to great risks. A survey from Svevia shows, for example, that their buffer vehicles are struck on average every twelfth day. Experiences from projects such as NordicWay and the first RWW-project have shown the potential of digital warning systems, but so far these have mainly been tested in limited demonstrations. Road Works Warning II (RWW II) takes the next step by connecting data from thousands of road work vehicles with a common data node and technology providers to in real-time disseminate warnings directly to road users via vehicle systems and navigation apps.

Purpose and goals of the project 

The project's purpose is to increase road safety at road works through a solution that automatically collects, processes and distributes data about ongoing works from up to 6,000–8,000 road work vehicles in Sweden and Norway. By reaching road users with early warnings, speed can be lowered and accidents prevented. The goals are to demonstrate the system's function on a large scale, evaluate the effects on road safety and behaviour, and identify the business models and organizational prerequisites that are required for a wide implementation. The goal is to contribute with knowledge base and practical experiences that can lead to a more robust, effective and safe road transport system – to the benefit of both road users, road workers, authorities and society at large.

Method 

RWW II is carried out as a full-scale system demonstration in Sweden and Norway where digital technology is tested in full scale and under real conditions. Data from road work vehicles is collected via the contractors' fleet management systems, sent to a national data node and distributed further to technology providers who make the information available in apps and vehicle systems. The effects are evaluated through analyses of speed changes, driving behaviours and user experiences. In parallel, business models, distribution of responsibility and the function of the ecosystem are studied to create a basis for long-term implementation. In this way, technical development, practical testing and organizational analysis are combined to create a holistic solution that can be introduced widely in the transport system.

How the results will be used 

The project's results shall give authorities decision basis for standardization and regulation development, contractors better conditions for a safe work environment and providers opportunities to develop new digital services. Through reports, seminars and collaboration with other initiatives, the experiences are spread to the entire sector. In this way, RWW II becomes an important step towards introducing digital warning systems on a large scale, which strengthens road safety, improves accessibility and contributes to a more efficient transport system.