The workshop was a great success! Thank you to everyone who joined us.
Workshop Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Proactive Work Zone Safety Workshop, hosted by the Nebraska Transportation Center on September 12, 2025.
The purpose of the workshop was to share progress on a proactive work zone warning system developed with funding from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The system was developed by a research team led by UNL in collaboration with the University of Alabama, MITRE, and Florida A&M University–Florida State University. The technology is designed to deliver proactive warnings to both drivers and highway workers. Equally important, the workshop gave participants an opportunity to provide input on how such technologies should be deployed to improve work zone safety.
What We Did
- Introduced the prototype system developed to provide proactive warnings to CMV drivers, passenger vehicle drivers, and highway workers.
- Engaged participants through live polling and group discussions about the biggest challenges in work zones and how warnings can be delivered in ways that are practical, effective, and trusted.
- Facilitated hands-on demonstrations in the UNL ITS Lab, allowing CMV drivers and others to experience the system in action.
What We Heard
- Challenges in work zones: Traffic congestion, distracted or impatient drivers, and narrowed lanes that limit CMV maneuverability.
- Why CMVs are overrepresented in crashes: Multiple factors, including distraction and inattention that often result in rear-end collisions, combined with the inherent difficulty CMVs face in navigating work zones.
- Solutions for drivers: Strong support for advance work zone warnings (e.g., countdown alerts as a driver approaches a work zone) and in-cab notifications when a potential collision is predicted.
- Solutions for workers: Preference for personal clip-on alert devices that vibrate, light up, and sound alarms, providing immediate warnings when a collision risk is detected.
Next Steps
The feedback gathered will be used to develop a roadmap for FMCSA that highlights the types of proactive warnings drivers and workers find most useful, and what is achievable with today’s technologies based on this research. By following this roadmap, we can move toward safer work zones for CMV drivers, the traveling public, and highway workers.
Thank you again to everyone who contributed your time and expertise to this important effort.
The Goals
Why this Matters
- Work zones are some of the most safety-critical places on our roads, especially for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers and highway construction workers.
- We are developing proactive warning technologies to alert drivers sooner, improve decision-making, and reduce crashes.
- Your participation will help ensure these tools work in real-world conditions.
What We're Doing
We're conducting a workshop to:
- Present a proactive work zone warning system developed through a high-priority FMCSA research grant.
- Demonstrate how the system warns drivers and highway construction workers.
- Gather driver and stakeholder feedback to guide implementation strategies for technology providers, federal/state Department of Transportations (DOTs), and contractors.
Who We're Looking for
We welcome participation from:
- CMV drivers (long-haul and local)
- Road construction and maintenance professionals
- DOT staff and safety managers
- Industry and safety advocacy organizations
What's in it for You
- First look at cutting-edge safety technology
- Opportunity to shape future training programs
- Hands-on driving simulator experience
- Gift card for CMV drivers who attend in person and complete the training and feedback session
Location
This workshop will be held on the campus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at the Prem Paul Research Center at Whittier School.
Prem Paul Research Center at Whittier School, Room Room 152
2200 Vine Street
Lincoln, NE 68583
Room 152
This ground level training room is located in the center of the building. To find it, enter the doors located on the sides of the south grand staircase and go straight into the Office of Research & Economic Development hallway with red flooring. Room 152 is the third door on the left side of the hallway.
