The U.S. Dept. of Labor reminds drivers to approach road construction with ample caution, announcing the 2024 theme of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW): “Work zones are temporary. Actions behind the wheel can last forever.”
The annual safety and awareness campaign, which is held April 15 – 19 this year, marks the start of the busy spring highway construction season, when the risk of deadly crashes can spike.
In Louisiana, fatal crashes in work zones are becoming more common. In 2021, the most recent reporting year, 17 people in Louisiana died in work zone crashes, according to The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. This is the highest number of fatalities recorded in one year since the group started tracking work zone fatalities in 2012. In 2020, 14 people were killed in 12 Louisiana work zone crashes, which is the second deadliest year recorded by the Information Clearinghouse. Nationally, work zone fatalities are also on the rise, increasing 25% in the last four years.
“Drivers in work zones have people’s lives in their hands – that includes work crews, their passengers, and other drivers nearby. We should all be driving with that level of responsibility in mind, especially when crews are on the road,” says Damian Simoneaux, LWCC Safety Services Manager.
Vehicle crashes are also the leading cause of injuries on and off the job. LWCC, Louisiana’s largest workers’ compensation insurance provider, is offering these reminders and tips to keep commuters and road crews safe in work zones.
Reminders
- Construction roadway signs, traffic cones, barricades, and flaggers are there to protect workers and provide safe passage for traffic.
- Warning signs, which are usually orange, alert drivers that they are about to enter a construction zone.
- Speed limits are always reduced in roadside construction zones. For example, if the posted speed limit on an interstate is 70 mph, be prepared to slow down to 45 mph or 50 mph.
- Drivers may encounter lane closures, detours, cones and barrels, workers, or police officers directing traffic.
- Reduced sightline visibility from heavy equipment, traffic cones, barricades, and other temporary structures can make it difficult to anticipate sudden changes in traffic flow.
Tips
- Stay attentive and avoid distractions, including handheld devices.
- Keep a four-second (or greater) distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Expect the unexpected as workers or equipment may enter your lane without warning.
- Look ahead at a travel distance of at least 15 seconds.
- Don’t tailgate.
- Be patient and stay calm
Distracted driving and speeding are the leading causes of motor vehicle crashes in highway construction zones, but patient, attentive drivers can make work zones safer and save lives.
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