Toward a New Zealand-Centric Good Practice Guide for Vulnerable Road Users in Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) Environments: An Integrative Review

Abstract

This integrative review seeks to inform a future New Zealand (NZ) good practice guide to enhance temporary traffic management (TTM) for vulnerable road users (VRUs). It responds to the industry's shift from a prescriptive national standard to a more flexible, risk-based framework. This transition necessitates a focused development of good practice guidelines, especially as existing TTM research and guidance are predominantly vehicle-centric. This review synthesises data from 32 peer-reviewed publications, 73 pieces of grey literature, and 33 relevant NZ literature provisions.

The review found that existing Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) standards are notably deficient, especially in addressing the needs of VRUs. Analysis of United States (US) and international guidelines reveals underlying uniformity lacking comprehensive VRU considerations. The guidance is marred by ambiguity and a lack of iteration, impeding effective contemporary VRU safety management. There is a notable absence of focused, prominent guidelines for VRUs within TTM, underscoring the need for a more evidence-based, adaptable approach to TTM standards that are explicitly oriented towards VRU safety and utility.

A critical analysis of the review findings has resulted in 16 broad recommendations for an NZ good practice guide to enhance TTM for VRUs, including a bespoke risk management process. First, practical TTM guidance should be modular, catering to distinct audience needs, and layered, balancing outcome-focused, process-oriented, and prescriptive expectations. Furthermore, a focus towards the Check and Act aspects of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is necessary, as current guidance is inadequate in both these areas, and a cornerstone of good practice is iteration. The significance of understanding the why behind VRU vulnerabilities needs emphasis, with a clear linkage of that why to any prescription. There is a need to cater for those with disabilities in TTM more effectively, as they are the most vulnerable and often the most disenfranchised. Finally, a sequential VRU-in-TTM-specific risk treatment process allows a more targeted application of evidence-based control measures for practitioners.

This research advances NZ's TTM for VRUs by integrating global best practices. It can guide future policies aimed at safer TTM environments for VRUs. Furthermore, this approach to developing good practices for TTM in NZ can serve as a blueprint for other areas of TTM requiring more mature exploration.