Reminder: Be Careful In Construction Work Zones    

Road construction season is well underway across the nation. With that in mind, this week we share a reminder to be cautious in work construction zones, so workers get home to their families safely.  

Last week marked National Work Zone Awareness Week, and this year's theme was "Respect the Zone So We Call Get Home." The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) says the campaign underscores how critical it is for drivers to make safety a priority when driving through work zones, as highway workers risk their lives eery day to improve the nation's transportation system.

“Safety is my top priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy during the kick-off event. “On behalf of the Trump Administration and USDOT, I’m honored to support National Work Zone Awareness Week. Together, we can usher in a golden age of travel while making our work zones – and our – roadways – safe for everybody.” 

FHWA's public awareness campaign is held annually each spring when construction season ramps up. It's designed to focus national attention on work zone safety and to encourage safe driving behavior in and around work zones.  

“Everyone plays a role in work zone safety,” said Gloria M. Shepherd, Executive Director of the Federal Highway Administration. “Highway workers face some of the toughest conditions because their jobs require them to work in areas very close to high-speed traffic. By staying alert, drivers can help workers do their jobs safely and arrive home when their work is done.”  

From 2021 to 2023, work zone fatalities decreased by nearly 7 percent according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. FHWA says will continue to help improve safety in work zones to sustain this trend; however, U.S. safety officials say despite some progress, the number of fatalities in work zones remains unacceptable. 

FHWA shares the following data:

• In 2023, 899 people died in work zone crashes.
• In 2022, the most current year for which data is available on the causes of crashes in work zones:
  • 34 percent of fatal work zone crashes involved speed as a factor;
  • 21 percent of all fatal work zone crashes involved rear-end collisions; and,
  • 30 percent involved commercial motor vehicles including large trucks and buses.

FHWA says crashes in highway work zones happen most frequently when drivers are speeding or aren’t paying attention to changing road conditions. Its urging drivers to take the following actions to improve work zone safety for everyone: 

• Avoid distractions by putting down the phone and focusing on driving safely. 
• Obey posted speed limits through work zones. 
• Be aware of workers who are in construction areas close to travel lanes.  
• Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists. 
• Give commercial motor vehicles extra space in work zones because narrowed lanes, unexpected lane shifts and longer braking distances are challenges for large vehicles. 
• Find another route, where possible, to avoid work zones.  
• Follow detours and pay attention to signs displaying active work zones.  

FHWA says you can find more data on work zone fatalities, including state-level data, at the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, operated by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute in coordination with FHWA. 

Photo Credit: F Armstrong Photography/Shutterstock.com.