KANSAS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT REPORT CODING MANUAL

DEFINITIONS / CLARIFICATIONS
WORK ZONE: An area of a trafficway where construction, maintenance, or utility work activities are
identified by warning signs/signals/indicators, including those on transport devices (e.g., signs, flashing
lights, channelizing devices, barriers, pavement markings, flagmen, warning signs and arrow boards
mounted on the vehicles in a mobile maintenance activity) that mark the beginning and end of a
construction, maintenance or utility work activity. It extends from the first warning sign, signal or
flashing lights to the “END ROAD CONSTRUCTION” sign or the last traffic control device pertinent for
that work activity. Work zones also include roadway sections where there is ongoing, moving (mobile)
work activity such as lane line painting or roadside mowing only if the beginning of the ongoing,
moving (mobile) work activity is designated by warning signs or signals.
WORK ZONE ACCIDENT: a motor vehicle traffic accident in which the First Harmful Event occurs
within the boundaries of a work zone or on an approach to or exit from a work zone, resulting from an
activity, behavior, or control related to the movement of the traffic units through the work zone.
Inclusions:
— Collision and non-collision accidents occurring within the signs or markings indicating a work
zone.
— Collision and non-collision accidents occurring on approach to, exiting from, or adjacent to work
zones that are related to the work zone, regardless of distance. (See Example #4 below)
Examples:
1. An automobile on the roadway loses control within a work zone due to a shift or reduction in the
travel lanes and crashes into another vehicle in the work zone.
2. A van in an open travel lane strikes a highway worker in the work zone.
3. A highway construction vehicle working on the edge of the roadway is struck by a motor vehicle
in-transport in a construction work zone.
4. A rear-end collision accident occurs before the signs or markings indicating a work zone
caused by vehicles slowing or stopped on the roadway because of the work zone activity.
5. A pickup in-transport loses control in an open travel lane within a work zone caused by a shift
or reduction in the travel lanes and crashes into another vehicle down the road that had already
exited the work zone.
6. A sport utility loses control and overturns on a roadway within a work zone due to a severe lane
shift without any collision event.
Exclusion Examples:
1. Two motor vehicles performing work in a work zone collide.
2. A highway maintenance truck strikes a highway worker. Both are within the closed portion of the
work site.
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