Each year in the spring, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is held to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones.
Whether you’re driving in your neighborhood or on a busy highway, making responsible choices in work zones is essential. National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 3-7) is an annual opportunity for motorists to evaluate their driving habits just in time for the busy spring and summer construction season.
What is National Work Zone Safety Month?
Work Zone Safety Month is a national initiative designed to promote public awareness on the dangers of driving distracted and speeding through work zones. Work zones can present an unfamiliar situation to drivers. Changes in traffic patterns, closed or narrowed lanes, and the presence of construction equipment and personnel can cause challenges for motorists as they travel through work zone.

- Know Your Rights – Under Federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Training also plays a key role in the prevention of accidents.
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What are the consequences of driving distracted or speeding through work zones?
- 32,000 workers and motorists were injured nation-wide. (2012)
- 130 workers were fatally injured nation-wide. (2012)
- 609 motorists were fatally injured nation-wide. (2012)
What can motorists do to improve safety in work zones?
- Keep your eyes on the road at all times.
- Pay attention to all traffic control devices and visual cues such as signs, cones and flag people.
- When you see the visual cues, SLOW down and be prepared to stop at any time.
“Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands”
This year’s Work Zone Awareness Week theme, “Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands,” reminds drivers that they play a crucial role in protecting themselves, other motorists and workers while driving in work zones.
2017 National Work Zone Awareness Week: April 3-7 – “Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands”
The 2017 National Work Zone Awareness Week is hosted by the state of Maryland, with a national kick-off event scheduled for Tuesday, April 4 at 10:30 at the Randolph/Georgia Avenue Interchange Project-downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.
When traveling in a work zone, please remember these tips from the Federal Highway Administration:
- Stay alert and minimize distractions. Your full attention should be on the roadway. Try to avoid common distractions such as changing the radio station, using a mobile phone or eating.
- Keep your headlights on.
- Pay attention to the road. Be aware of signs, including signage that may indicate your lane is ending, that a detour is approaching or that you will need to follow the directions of a pilot car or flagger. Watch nearby traffic and be prepared to react to movement around your vehicle.
- Merge into the proper lane. Merge well before you reach the lane closure, and be aware that these traffic patterns can change daily.
- Don’t tailgate. Follow the vehicle in front of you at a safe distance, and watch its brake lights carefully. Rear-end crashes are the most common type of work zone crash.
- Obey the posted speed limit. There may be workers just feet away from your vehicle. Fines are increased in work zones. You may need to be prepared to further slow down if conditions change. Stopping distance increases on wet or icy roads.
- Change lanes safely. Change lanes within the pavement markings, and wait to change lanes until traffic conditions allow you to do so safely.
- Follow instructions from flaggers.
- Expected the unexpected. Watch vigilantly for workers, work vehicles and equipment, which may enter your lane unexpectedly. Be prepared to react to vehicles around you which may slow, stop or change lanes unexpectedly.
- Be patient.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is coordinated and sponsored by the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Additional Federal and State Resources
- ATSSA 2017 NWZAW page
- FHWA Flyer (HTML, PDF 854KB)
- FHWA Factsheet (HTML, PDF 149KB)
- FHWA Work Zone Resources (HTML, PDF 707KB)
- Maryland State Highway Administration Web Site
- National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse 2017 NWZAW page
- 2017 NWZAW Poster (JPEG, 760KB)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- AASHTO’s National Work Zone Awareness Video
How Federal, State, and Other Agencies Are Promoting the National Work Zone Awareness Week
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
- Video: National Work Zone Awareness Week Event Puts Safety in Your Hands
- Video: National Work Zone Awareness Week–April 3-7, 2017
- AASHTO Journal: Recent South Carolina Tragedy Underscores Message of 2017 Work Zone Awareness Week
American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
- National Work Zone Awareness Week 2017
- News Release: National Work Zone Awareness Week Begins Monday
American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA)
- National Work Zone Awareness Week website
- PR Newswire: ATSSA Cites Dangers in Roadway Work Zones as National Safety Campaign Begins
Associated General Contractors (AGC)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
National Safety Council (NSC)
- Safety+Health: National Work Zone Awareness Week Reminds Drivers: ‘Work Zone Safety is In Your Hands’
- Safety+Health: Editor’s Note: Work zone safety is ‘In Your Hands’
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Department of Transportation
Work Zone Awareness Week photos on Twitter
Alabama
- Alabama News Network: ALDOT Focused on National Work Zone Awareness
- The Office of Alabama Governor: National Work Zone Awareness Week
- SylacaugaNews.com: ALDOT Raising Awareness After 14 Killed; 645 Injured in Road Work Zones in 2016
- RocketCityNow.com: Widow of ALDOT Worker Shares Heartbreaking Story
- WAAY 31: Widow of Killed ALDOT Worker Calls for More Driver Awareness
Arizona
- Arizona Department of Transportation:
- Tucson News Now: Slow down for National Work Zone Awareness Week
- YourPHX.com: Give Work Zone Employees a ‘Brake’
California
- California Department of Transportation
Colorado
- Colorado Department of Transportation
- KOAA.com: CDOT Remembers Fallen Employees with Tribute Ceremony
- Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association: 2017 National Work Zone Awareness Week
- FOX21News.com: CDOT Raises Awareness of Cone Zones During National Work Zone Awareness Week
Connecticut
- NBC Connecticut: National Work Zone Safety Week Kicks off Monday
- Connecticut Technology Transfer Center: 2017 Roadway Safety Poster Contest for Children
Delaware
- Delaware Department of Transportation
District of Columbia
Florida
- Florida Department of Transportation
- District Three: National Work Zone Awareness Week April 3 – 7, 2017
- CapitalSoup.com: Central Florida Law Enforcement Supporting Work Zone Awareness Week
- WCJB TV-20: FDOT: Work Zone Crashes in Alachua County are Climbing
- CapitalSoup.com: News Alert: Media Availability for Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
- CapitalSoup.com: As Work Zone Safety Awareness Week Begins, FDOT Asks, ‘What Drives You?’
- NBC2: Be Alert for Work Zone Awareness Week
Georgia
- Georgia Department of Transportation
- Middle Georgia CEO: GDOT Observes National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
- Construction & Demolition Recycling: Safety Stand-Down Organized for Georgia Road Workers
- Industrial Safety & Hygiene News: Safety Stand-Down Puts the Brakes on Injuries at Georgia Road Sites
- ForConstructionPros.com: Safety Stand-Down Events Decrease Injuries on Georgia Road Construction Sites
- Military Technologies: Safety Stand-Down Events Put the Brakes on Injuries at Georgia Road Sites
- The Augusta Chronicle: Last Week’s Deaths of SCDOT Employees Bring Home Danger of Job to Road Construction Workers
- WFXL: GDOT Asks Motorists to Use Caution During Work Zone Awareness Week
Illinois
- Illinois Department of Transportation:
- WSIU Public Broadcasting: IDOT and Partners Stress Work Zone Safety
- WLS-AM: Work Zone Safety Week
- Kane County Connects: Kane County is Wearing Orange Wednesday in Memory of Steve
- QCOnline.com: Work Zone Safety Call Comes Hours After I-80 Death
- AltonDailyNews.com: Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
Indiana
- Clinton County Daily News: INDOT Unveils New PSA for Work Zone Awareness Week
- FOX59: Parent Who Lost Son in Work Zone Accident Pleas for Drivers to Slow Down, Pay Attention
- Naptown Buzz: April 3-7 is Work Zone Awareness Week in Indiana
- WJTS TV 18: Indiana Work Zone Safety Awareness
- TriStateHomepage.com: Governor Proclaims April 3 – 7 ‘Work Zone Awareness Week’
- Classic Hit Memories WAMW 107.9FM: It’s Work Zone Awareness Week
- Fort Wayne’s NBC: Work Zone Safety Campaign Revs Up
- Tribune Star: Caution in Work can Save a Life, Often Drivers Own
Iowa
- Iowa Department of Transportation
- KJAN: IA DOT Plans to Discuss Work Zones in Council Bluffs for 2017
Kansas
- Kansas Department of Transportation
- WIBW: KDOT National Work Zone Awareness Week In Kansas
- KSNT News: KDOT Encouraging Work Zone Safety
- Kansas Turnpike Authority: National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 3-7
- Kane County Connects: ‘Remembering Steve’: What Kane County is Doing to Promote Work Zone Safety
- KSNW-TV: Report: Number of Work Zone Crashes in Kansas on the Rise
Kentucky
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)
- KyForward.com: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Launches Campaign Focusing on Work Zone Safety
- The District 7 Interchange: National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 3-7… Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands!
- Marshall County Daily: Transportation Cabinet Asks Organizations to “Glow Orange” for Work Zone Safety Awareness
- The Lane Report: KYTC Seeking Public Input on Work Zone Safety Experiences
- WestKentuckyStar.com: Kentucky to Glow Orange for Work Zone Safety
- Northern Kentucky Tribune: Transportation Cabinet Asks Organizations to “Glow Orange” for Work Zone Safety Awareness
- The Richmond Register: ‘Glow Orange’: Kentuckians Reminded to Drive with Caution in Work Zones
- FOX19: 1 Killed Weekly in Road Work Zones: Tips for Safe Driving
Louisiana
- Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
- KTBS 3: DOTD kicks off National Work Zone Awareness week
- The Advocate: National Work Zone Awareness Week Begins Monday
- KTBS 3: Work Zone Awareness … Saving Lives
Maine
- Maine Turnpike Authority: It’s National Work Zone Awareness Week
Maryland
- Maryland State Highway Administration:
- Equipment World: National Work Zone Awareness Week Launches at Active Maryland Construction Site
- CNS Maryland: State and Feds Team up to Promote Work Zone Safety
- Your4State.com: Saving Lives in Work Zones: Maryland Kicked off Work Zone Safety Awareness Week on Monday
- CBS Baltimore: ‘Slow Down, Pay Attention’; How to Stay Safe in Construction Zones
- Montgomery Community Media: State Urges Drivers to Slow Down in Work Zones
- Flagger Force: National Work Zone Awareness Week National Kick-off Event
- The Baltimore Post: Virtual Reality: Police’s Attempt to Curb Distracted Driving Accidents
Michigan
- Michigan Department of Transportation:
- 9&10 News: M-DOT Encourages Drivers to Be Alert for National Work Zone Awareness Week
- MLive: With Worker Injuries on the Rise, MDOT Focuses on Work Zone Safety
- WZZM13.com: National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week Kicks off in Michigan
- FOX 17: MDOT Launches Work Zone Awareness Week
- WXYZ Channel 7: National Work Zone Awareness Week Kicks off in Michigan
- U.S. News and World Report: Michigan Kicks off National Work Zone Awareness Week
Minnesota
- Fox21: MnDOT Reminds of Work Zone Awareness
- Fox21: MnDOT Urges Driver Safety as Part of National Work Zone Awareness Week
- The Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch: MnDOT Urges Driver Safety as Part of National Work Zone Awareness Week
Missouri
- Missouri Department of Transportation
- Missourinet: MoDOT Asking Public to Do its Part for Safety of Workers at Highway Projects
- The Kansas City Star: MoDOT Worker Survives Work Zone Crash
- KRMS Radio: National Work Zone Awareness Week
- KRCG: MoDOT Urges Caution Amid Work Zone Awareness Week
- KSHB-41: MoDOT Worker Nearly Struck by Vehicle Shares his Story About Traffic Safety
- KY3: Work Zone Awareness Week Aims to Promote Safety near Roadway Construction Areas
- FOX 4 Kansas City: National Work Zone Awareness Week Serves as Reminder that Drivers Should Slow Down and Pay Attention
- City of Brentwood, MO: National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 3-7
- KFVS12: MoDOT to Mark Work Zone Awareness Week
- News Tribune: Our Opinion: Hands on the Wheel, Eyes on the Road
- Military Technologies: Work Zone Awareness Week Kick-Off Planned in Springfield Monday, April 3
Nebraska
- Omaha World-Herald: Omaha City Council Honors City Employee Fatally Struck on Job with National Work Zone Awareness Week
- KMTV 3 News Now: City Council to Honor Killed Worker Sal Fidone
Nevada
- CBS Las Vegas: This is National Work Zone Awareness Week
- KTNV Channel 13 Action News: Drive Safely During National Work Zone Awareness Week
- KTVN 2: NDOT Reminds Drivers to Drive Safely During National Work Zone Awareness Week
- KOLO-TV: NDOT Commemorates National Work Zone Awareness Week
New Mexico
- Los Alamos Daily Post: NMDOT Encourages Safe Driving Through Work Zones
New York
- WBNG.com: NYSDOT Raises Awareness for Work Zone Safety
- The Lansing Star: National Work Zone Awareness Week Is April 3-7
- Livingston County News: State Agencies Promote Work Zone Safety
- News12 Brooklyn: Workers Urge Caution During National Work Zone Awareness Week
- WIBX 950: April 3 -7 is National Work Zone Awareness Week
- Cheektowaga Bee: State Agencies Promote Work Zone Safety During 2017 Construction Season
North Carolina
- North Carolina Department of Transportation
- Goldsboro Daily News: NCDOT Kicks off Work Zone Awareness Week
- FOX8: NCDOT Work Zone Awareness Week Reminds People to Drive Safe
Ohio
- Sentinel-Tribune: ODOT: Diverging Diamond Work to Impact Traffic Starting in June
- Cleveland 19 News: National Work Zone Awareness Week
Oregon
- Oregon Department of Transportation
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
- ButlerRadio.com: Officials Urge Attention During Safety Week
- CBS Philly: Pa. Troopers are Cracking Down on Drivers Speeding in Work Zones
- FOX43: Cross on Display for National Work Zone Awareness Week
- CBS21: Road Crews Plea with Drivers to Slow Down in Work Zones
- Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc.: During National Work Zone Awareness Week, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Reminds Drivers to Slow Down, Stay Safe
- Rutkoski Fencing Inc.: National Work Zone Awareness Week April 3-7 2017
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Department of Transportation
South Carolina
- Charleston CEO: SCDOT to Recognize National Work Zone Awareness Week
- ForConstructionPros.com: Work Zone Awareness Week 2017 Kicks off as Construction Season Begins
South Dakota
- South Dakota Department of Transportation
- NewsCenter1: National Work Zone Awareness Week
- KOTA-TV: National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 3-7
- City of Sioux Falls: National Work Zone Awareness Week: Stay Alert and Slow Down in Cone Zones
Tennessee
- Tennessee Department of Transportation
- FOX13: TDOT Kicks off Work Zone Awareness week
- Citizen Tribune: TDOT Promotes National Work Zone Awareness Week
- WMC Action News 5: National Work Zone Awareness week is April 3-7
- WBBJ-TV: TDOT Launches New Safety Campaign, Remembers Fallen Workers
- Chattanoogan.com: TDOT Asks Motorists to “Work with Us”
Texas
- Texas Department of Transportation
- Texas A&M Transportation Institute: National Work Zone Awareness Week 2016 — Work Zone Safety Is in Your Hands
- 12News: TxDOT Spreading Awareness on Work Zone Fatalities
- MyHighPlains.com: TxDOT Kicks off National Work Zone Awareness Week
- Amarillo Globe-News: TxDOT Asks Drivers to Be Alert During Work Zone Awareness Week
- Gainesville Daily Register: TxDOT Urges Caution Through Work Zones
- USA Breaking News: Workers Plan Motorcade on I-35W in Fort Worth for National Work Zone Awareness Week
- Fort Worth Business Press: Parade for Work Zone Safety
- Crossroads Today: Work Zone Fatalities Increase 27% in Texas
- Abilene Reporter-News: Motorists More at Risk in Work Zones than Workers
- KTXS: TxDOT Reminds Drivers to Slow Down in Work Zones
- Herald Democrat: Sherman TxDOT Office to Display Traffic Cones for Work Zone Awareness
- KSAT 12: TxDOT Campaign Aims to Increase Awareness, Reduce Crashes in Work Zones
Utah
- Daily Herald: UDOT Sets up New ‘Office’ to Encourage Work Zone Safety
- FOX 13: UDOT Exec Moves Desk to Construction Site to Urge Drivers to Slow Down
- KSL.com: ‘Don’t Barrel Through Our Office,’ UDOT Chief Urges
Virginia
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- The Progress-Index: VDOT Honors Man Killed in 1959 Work Zone Crash
- WTOP: VDOT Crews Recount Near Misses in Work Zones
- VirginiaFirst.com: Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
- Newsplex: VDOT Marking Work Zone Awareness Week
- Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance: “Work Zone Safety is In Your Hands”: National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 3-7 (See Page 4 of 10)
- Campbell County: VDOT Work Zone Awareness Week is April 3 – 7
- Bristol Herald Courier: VDOT: Exercise Caution in Work Zones
- Nelson County: April 3-7 is National (Highway) Work Zone Awareness Week
Washington
- SafetyNow: National Work Zone Awareness Week
Wisconsin
- State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation
- Daily Reporter: WisDOT Kicks off Work Zone Awareness Week
- Fond du Lac Reporter: Go Orange for Work Zone Awareness
- News8000.com: Governor Walker Emphasizes Work Zone Safety to Drivers
- WeAreGreenBay.com: Work Zone Awareness Week
- NBC 15 Video: Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
- WEAU 13 News: Work Zone Awareness Week Promotes Highway Safety
- WRJC News: National Work Zone Awareness Week April 3-7
- WDUX: Work Zone Awareness Week