{"id":5383,"date":"2021-06-03T17:08:30","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T00:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.daily.construction\/?p=5383"},"modified":"2021-06-03T17:08:34","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T00:08:34","slug":"agc-60-of-contractors-report-work-zone-crashes-during-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/agc-60-of-contractors-report-work-zone-crashes-during-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"AGC: 60% of Contractors Report Work Zone Crashes During Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite fewer drivers on the road during the pandemic, 60% of contractors reported motor vehicles had crashed into their work zones in the past 12 months, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n

That represents a 7% drop from 2019, but a 6% increase from the 2018 survey<\/b><\/a>\u00a0and a 16% rise from 2017. The 2021 Work Zone Awareness Survey<\/a> was conducted between April and May and had 292 respondents.<\/p>\n

Only about one-third of contractors said the lower traffic levels had made work zones safer. A nearly equal percentage (28%) said workers were less safe, because though there were fewer vehicles, drivers were speeding<\/b><\/a>. Another 33% said they saw no impact on work zone safety during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

About one-third of the contractors also said that they had five or more work zone crashes during the past 12 months.<\/p>\n

Sixty percent of responding contractors report work zone crashes.<\/span>Associated General Contractors of America<\/span><\/span>Of the work zone crashes, it appears that drivers and their passengers bear the brunt of the injuries and fatalities. According to the survey, 19% of contractors had workers injured in crashes, while 35% reported drivers or passengers were injured. The survey also reported that 4% of contractors had workers who died, and 12% reported drivers or passengers who died as a result of a work-zone crash.<\/p>\n

Contractors also believe that work zones are becoming less safe, with 78% saying there is a greater risk of a highway work zone crash than a decade ago.<\/p>\n

The main reason contractors cite for increased crash risk is phones, at 88%. Speeding was cited by 68%, and traffic was cited by 60%.<\/p>\n

The leading remedy to work zone crashes is a greater police presence, said 82% of respondents. Here are the other cited solutions:<\/p>\n