Construction group launches new highway work zone safety effort

Forty-four per cent of US highway contractors reported that motor vehicles had crashed into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. As a result, association officials have launched a new national advertising and outreach campaign to urge motorists to stay alert and slow down while driving through highway work zones. Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer for the association
May 26, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Forty-four per cent of US highway contractors reported that motor vehicles had crashed into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. As a result, association officials have launched a new national advertising and outreach campaign to urge motorists to stay alert and slow down while driving through highway work zones.


Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer for the association said that 49 per cent of contractors who reported work zone crashes on their projects said that motor vehicle operators or passengers were injured and 13 per cent of those crashes involved a driver or passenger fatality.  Highway work zone crashes also pose a significant risk for construction workers, Sandherr noted.  He said 25 percent of work zone crashes injure construction workers and 11 per cent of those crashes kill them.

Sandherr noted that the campaign will feature new radio ads that will air in dozens of cities around the country that caution drivers to be careful in highway work zones.  The ads warn drivers that speeding, texting and losing focus while in work zones aren’t worth the “nightmare” of killing workers, drivers or passengers.

“There is no meeting, email or text that is more important than the safety of workers or motorists,” said Sandherr. “It is absolutely essential for every driver to slow down, pay attention and put the phone down while driving through highway work zones.”

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • The challenging European road to carbon neutrality and the need for distance-based charging
    November 1, 2023
    Fuel taxes are falling and EVs have the potential to create social equity issues. The answer may lie in expanding the use of technology which has successfully been used for two decades with trucks
    Read More
  • Washington releases Vision Zero Action Plan
    December 18, 2015
    Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation (DDOT) the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and other city officials, has releases the District’s Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries to people walkers, cyclists and drivers by 2024. The Plan is the result of an extensive planning process involving 30 government agencies, community groups and residents. It places a high priority on making safety improvements and ref
    Read More
  • Auckland’s major road safety operation targets red light running
    May 16, 2016
    Red light running is the focus of a major two week long road safety operation, launching in Auckland, Nerw Zealand, this week, coinciding with the start of Road Safety Week. The operation, in Waitemata District of the city, is a joint initiative between Police, Auckland Transport (AT) and NZ Transport Agency. Police will target those motorists who take risks during peak morning traffic at four key high-risk intersections, which were selected because of their location, crash risk, traffic flow and ability
    Read More
  • Visible enforcement makes roads safer: study
    June 14, 2022
    US research shows that high visibility is factor in reducing dangerous driving behaviours
    Read More

Highlighted Content