As part of the 18th annual National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) held April 3-7, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Foundation called on drivers to stay off their mobile devices, slow down and pay close to attention to nearby road workers when traveling through construction zones.
Nearly 700 people, including 130 workers, are killed annually in roadway work zone accidents. More than 35,000 people are injured in these sites.
The NWZAW urges motorists to “Drive Toward Zero Crashes,” which means:
- Read and follow work zone signs.
- Pay attention to other drivers.
- Stay focused, and avoid distractions such as mobile devices.
- Expect the unexpected, try to anticipate problems.
- Keep your cool. Be patient.
The ARTBA Foundation’s National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse (www.workzonesafety.org), is also available as a valuable resource for stakeholders interested in learning more about the safety risks and hazards with road construction zones. The facility, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, handles more than 200,000 requests annually, can help users find information on: accident and crash data, flagging, emerging technologies and equipment, best practices, key safety experts, laws and regulations, safety standards, research publications, training videos and programs, and successful public education campaigns. Materials are available in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, French, Russian and Arabic.