National Work Zone Awareness Week 2023: Tips to Stay Safe in Work Zones

The sun shines and temperatures rise as you head out on your multi-day interstate delivery drop. Despite the long journey ahead, you’re looking forward to the warmer weather and beautiful scenery along your route. You’re rounding out day one, and suddenly you notice bumper-to-bumper traffic ahead. As you inch closer, you also notice a bright orange “WORK ZONE AHEAD” road sign — it’s time to slow down and pay extra attention to other vehicles on the road.

Navigating through work zones can be tough, especially for large trucks. Narrow lanes, sudden stops, shifts in traffic patterns, and uneven road surfaces are only some of the many road challenges that lead to large trucks making up nearly one-third of fatal work zone crashes. National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 17–21, 2023) is a good time to remind yourself how to safely drive through work zones and share the road safely with other road users.

Prioritizing Safety on Our Roads

With the historic passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, we’ll likely see more and more construction projects emerge to improve roadways across the country. While creating safer roads takes time, it’s important we always practice responsible driving — safer roads and safer people lead to our goal of zero roadway fatalities, as outlined in the National Roadway Safety Strategy’s Safe System Approach.

As you encounter work zones this spring and summer, here are some tips for keeping you and other road users safe:

• Slow down. Lane closures, traffic pattern shifts, and reduced speeds are common in work zones. Make sure to slow down when entering a work zone and keep an eye out for road workers.
• Pay close attention. You should always keep your eyes on the road, but this is especially important in work zones. Avoid distractions such as your phone or eating and drinking.
• Research your route. Before setting out on the road, check for upcoming work zones. When possible, avoid them and use available detours.
• Keep your distance. Rear-end crashes are extremely common in work zones — always maintain extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

Share Safety Messages with Your Community

FMCSA, alongside road safety allies across the country, are continuously working to remind everyone how to share the roads safely with large trucks and buses, no matter the road condition. Together, we can help prevent CMV-involved crashes, specifically in work zones.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Help raise awareness about driving safely through work zones during National Work Zone Awareness Week and all year long by utilizing the resources below!

• Download shareable materials from the Our Roads, Our Safety work zone safety webpage.
• Do your part to implement the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) and Safe System Approach by taking specific actions to reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roadways.
• Don’t forget to let us know how you’re committing to action.
• Follow the Our Roads, Our Safety Facebook page throughout the week for easy-to-share tips and posts.
• Check out news, resources, and weekly events from the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) on the NWZAW website.