Work zones are everywhere. Whether it’s a road closed to fix an underground pipe or an entire block closed for scheduled maintenance to a building, we’ve all experienced a detour on or around the road. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 857 people were killed and 44,240 more were injured in work zone crashes in 2020. That’s 857 parents, children and other loved ones who never made it home, and tens of thousands more whose lives were changed forever by injuries.

How Crashes Happen in Work Zones

According to FHWA, more work zone-related crashes happen on arterial roads than any other road type. These roads are usually multi-lane and connect local communities to major interstates. Arterials also carry multi-modal types of transit, such as buses, trains, pedestrians, cyclists and freight. The presence of so many different road users can multiply the risks in work zones, where changes to normal traffic patterns can create confusion and frustration. 

Unfortunately, speeding is also common on these types of roads and is the most significant contributor to work zone crashes. In 2020, nearly 300 people died in a work zone crash involving speeding, and hundreds more died in rear-end collisions and crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. 

Pedestrians and other vulnerable road users are especially at risk in work zones. The Institute of Transportation Engineers reports that if a person is hit by a car traveling at 20 mph, they have a 90% chance of survival. Increase that to just 30 mph and the chance of survival drops to 60%. At 40 mph, a person hit by a car only has a 20% chance of surviving.

Distractions Increase the Risks in Work Zones

Distracted driving is a leading cause of motor vehicle crashes even though it is underreported. We all have been guilty of trying to drive and eat a quick snack or use our vehicle’s infotainment screen to see who is calling or texting us, among many other types of distractions. Many of us have even switched to using hands-free tools to take calls or use our navigation systems under the belief that they do not impair our driving abilities. Unfortunately, research has proven that to be incorrect.

According to the National Safety Council, eight people a day are killed in crashes attributed to distracted driving in the U.S. Taking your attention away from the road, even for a moment, can have disastrous consequences for yourself, your loved ones and the other people around you. This is especially true in work zones where sidewalks and lanes may be altered, and where vehicles may merge or hit their brakes unexpectedly.