Work Zones

Work zones on U.S. highways have become increasingly dangerous places for both workers and travelers, with the death rate approaching two per day. With more than 70,000 work zones in place across America on a given day, highway agencies are realizing that it is not enough to focus on improving the devices used in the work zone areas, but that they must also reach out to the public in order to change the behavior of drivers so that crashes can be prevented.

Motorists who drive through work zones every day often do not pay enough attention to the advisory signs and thus fail to heed the posted warnings. Drivers need to be made aware of the fact that work zones require greater caution, adjusted speed appropriate for conditions, and heightened alertness. Although recent outreach campaigns, like the "Give 'Em A Brake" campaign, have focused mainly on the safety of the worker, it is also important for motorists to realize that their own safety is in just as much jeopardy as the workers'.

As the result of a recent Federal/State initiative under the National Highway Work Zone Safety Program, a new public outreach campaign, called "Get the Picture--Listen to the Signs," has been designed to address this safety issue.

The campaign was developed under a pooled-fund project, in which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and 21 State departments of transportation (DOTs) participated (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin).

Focus group studies conducted by FHWA helped to determine the goals of the "Get the Picture--Listen to the Signs" campaign. The results of these studies showed that many drivers do not realize how many deaths and injuries take place in work zones each year. Most study participants were also surprised to learn that more injuries and fatalities involve motorists than highway workers.

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