{"id":35184,"date":"2026-04-26T16:28:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T23:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/lets-take-action-to-make-us-road-work-zones-safer\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T16:28:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T23:28:17","slug":"lets-take-action-to-make-us-road-work-zones-safer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/lets-take-action-to-make-us-road-work-zones-safer\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s take action to make US road work zones safer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech\">\n    <button class=\"text-to-speech__button button\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"text-to-speech__button__icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?313321260226\" alt=\"-\"><br \/>\n        Listen to the article<\/p>\n<p>            <span class=\"text-to-speech__button__audio-length\">4 min<\/span><\/p>\n<p>    <\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls\">\n        <audio controls=\"\" class=\"js-text-to-speech\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/text-to-speech.divecdn.com\/newspost\/818160\/2026-04-24_09.36.39\/road-work-zone-safety-highway-bill.wav\" type=\"audio\/mp3\"><\/source><\/audio><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls__text\">\n            This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">feedback<\/a>.\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"editor-note\">\n<p>Nile Elam is vice president of government affairs for the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Opinions are the author\u2019s own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>America\u2019s 4 million miles of roads drive our economy and connect our communities. But building and maintaining them takes a human toll we should not accept.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/workzonesafety.org\/work-zone-data\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>work zone crash occurs<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> in the U.S. roughly every five minutes, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. More than 100 people are injured in these incidents daily and around 17 die each week.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For the men and women building and maintaining our nation\u2019s roads, that level of risk is unacceptable, yet far too common. And they aren\u2019t the only ones at risk. Indeed, drivers and passengers account for <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ops.fhwa.dot.gov\/wz\/resources\/facts_stats.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>around 80% of work zone fatalities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Some danger in life is unavoidable, but these rates of crashes, injuries and deaths are intolerable, especially because many of these incidents are preventable with the right policy and careful implementation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"image-right inside_story\">\n<div class=\"figure_content\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Headshot of Nile Elam\" data-imagemodel=\"196937\" src=\"https:\/\/imgproxy.divecdn.com\/gS7jT4uGRnNu1lcl3ILvcI5ypOXTH6f_rqXkVkN7EiA\/g:ce\/rs:fit:1600:0\/Z3M6Ly9kaXZlc2l0ZS1zdG9yYWdlL2RpdmVpbWFnZS9OaWxlLUVsYW0xLmpwZw==.webp\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"inside_story_caption\">\n<p>Nile Elam<\/p>\n<p>Permission granted by National Asphalt Pavement Association<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Lawmakers have noticed. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 established the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ops.fhwa.dot.gov\/publications\/fhwahop23011\/fhwahop23011.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Work Zone Safety Contingency Fund<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> to support a range of safety measures. Congress has also held hearings addressing the problem, including last year\u2019s Highways and Transit Subcommittee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com\/s\/1KccC31j95hx93v0xivukTQE6P1?domain=transportation.house.gov\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>hearing on roadway safety<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, where Chair David Rouzer, R-N.C., and others called for action.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cOur enforcement can discourage reckless driving in work zones, but we can also look at ways to better design work zones and related traffic patterns to curtail these incidents,\u201d Rouzer said at the February 2025 hearing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Work Zone Awareness Week<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Industry leaders have long pushed for progress. This week marks the<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nwzaw.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> 26th annual National Work Zone Awareness Week<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, a campaign advanced by industry partners and transportation agencies to promote safe driving in work zones. Industry groups have also formed the<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asphaltpavement.org\/uploads\/documents\/WZS_coalition_stakeholder_portal_submission_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> National Work Zone Safety Coalition<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> to encourage lawmakers to take action.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Collectively, we are taking steps in the right direction, but we need to do more \u2014 and fast \u2014 because progress has not kept pace with the problem. About three in five highway contractors reported in 2024 that a vehicle had <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/road-safety-data-construction-work-zones\/749214\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>crashed into their work zones<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> in the past year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>The road ahead for work zone safety<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Fortunately, 2026 is a monumental year for transportation policy. Congress is working to reauthorize the surface transportation bill, creating a clear opportunity to turn rhetoric into action.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>As lawmakers craft this year\u2019s bill, work zone safety must be a top priority, especially since there are practical, bipartisan actions to take:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Advance the<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/troycarter.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/rep-carter-introduces-bipartisan-bill-make-roadways-safer-disabled-vehicles\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Strengthen tools such as the Work Zone Safety Contingency Fund.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Invest in proven safety measures, from law enforcement presence to driver education programs to modern traffic control technologies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The WZSCF itself exemplifies both progress and a missed opportunity for work zone safety. While these funds are available to all 50 states, very few have actually used them. The intent of the policy is right, but implementation must improve.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Work zone safety is a shared responsibility. Policymakers must set strong standards. Agency officials must implement them. Enforcement must ensure compliance. The industry must continue innovating and applying best practices. And, critically, drivers must stay alert and slow down. We all have a role to play.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>This year, as Congress works on highway bill reauthorization, National Work Zone Awareness Week must be about more than just talk. This is a moment for action. Lawmakers should include these practical reforms in this year\u2019s bill, and constituents should make clear why they matter.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The solutions are within reach. It\u2019s time to grab them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/road-work-zone-safety-highway-bill\/818160\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This article was originally posted at Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Listen to the article 4 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Nile &#8230; <a title=\"Let\u2019s take action to make US road work zones safer\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/lets-take-action-to-make-us-road-work-zones-safer\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Let\u2019s take action to make US road work zones safer\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[457],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-construction-dive","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}