Labourers, heavy equipment operators and other professionals face plenty of danger while working along road and highway construction work zones.
However, new research has revealed motorists are almost twice as likely to die in a work zone crash as construction workers.
The study, conducted by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America and Heavy Construction Systems Specialists (HCSS), found among respondents who reported experiencing a work zone crash, 30 per cent resulted in injury to workers, while 71 per cent reported experiencing a crash in which drivers or passengers were injured.
Contractors say the new data highlights the need for stronger work zone safety laws and better enforcement.
AGC chief executive officer Jeffrey Shoaf noted crashes involving a moving vehicle in highway work zones are all too common as motorists fail to slow down and pay attention to the rules.
“Every day, tens of thousands of Americans work alongside our highways, often with little more between them and rushing traffic than an orange barrel,” he said. “These workers are counting on the traveling public to slow down and pay attention, but too often, the public is letting them down.”
The study was based on a nationwide survey of highway construction firms. The association and HCSS conducted the survey in April and May. More than 600 contractors participated.
Sixty per cent of respondents reported at least one crash in the past year involving a moving vehicle at highway work zones. Nearly one-third of firms experienced five or more crashes during the past year. Thirteen per cent of contractors reported construction workers were killed in work zone crashes, while 24 per cent reported drivers or passengers were killed in those crashes. Sixty per cent of respondents reported projects were delayed as a result.
Forty-seven per cent of contractors reported highway work zones are more dangerous than they were a year ago, while another 51 per cent indicated the risks are the same as a year ago.
Twenty-eight per cent indicated work zone crashes have affected their ability to hire and attract new workers to the industry.
However, Shoaf noted 36 per cent of contractors reported the current penalties for moving violations in highway work zones are not sufficient to deter unsafe driving behaviour.
Another 39 per cent indicated while the penalties might be sufficient, enforcement is not.
Thirty-three per cent of respondents reported enforcement efforts such as police presence or use of speeding cameras did not deter unsafe driving behaviours in work zones.
Two-thirds of survey respondents declared they wanted states to pass stricter laws against cellphone usage and distracted driving in work zones, and 54 per cent wanted automatic ticketing for speed violations in those zones. Fifty-two per cent supported highway work zone cameras.
“Too few drivers see the need to slow down and pay attention in work zones because too few states have made work zone safety a priority,” Shoaf said.
The AGC is pushing congress to require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to collect data on work zone crashes, including who is killed or injured in those crashes and to require states to create plans to reduce the incidents. The organization is also working with its network of chapters to push for better enforcement and education measures at the state level.
Work zones are perilous environments where multiple groups face significant risks, according to personal injury attorneys Wocl Leydon of Connecticut who wrote a blog on the issue.
The attorneys said motorists represent a substantial portion of casualties in work zone incidents.
In 2022, speeding was a contributing factor in 34 per cent of fatal work zone crashes, up from 32 per cent in 2021. Rear-end collisions accounted for 21 per cent of fatal work zone crashes in 2022, slightly decreasing from 23 per cent in the previous year.
“The vulnerability of commercial drivers, including other drivers operating large trucks, is particularly notable in work zone accidents,” the attorneys wrote. “These drivers often face additional challenges, such as navigating through narrow lanes and dealing with sudden changes in traffic patterns.
“The presence of heavy machinery and workers in close proximity further complicates the situation, as they must work closely with the evolving conditions.”
The attorneys stated motorists must be vigilant and responsive to changing road conditions and traffic signs to avoid accidents. Meanwhile, tailgating is a common issue in work zones.
The high percentage of pedestrian fatalities in work zones involving motor vehicles encroaching into road work areas highlights the need for strict adherence to traffic rules and speed limits, they wrote.
“By understanding the risks and taking proactive measures to stay alert, motorists can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents and protect both themselves and others in their car.”
