Work Zone Safety

ADOT employees wear orange for work zone safety

ADOT employees wear orange for work zone safety

ADOT employees wear orange for work zone safety

ADOT employees wear orange for work zone safety

By Kelsey Mo / ADOT Communications
April 18, 2024
A collage of groups of people wearing orange

If you’ve driven through a work zone, you’ve seen workers wearing hard hats and orange or yellow reflective vests. Those bright colors stand out and make it easier for motorists to see people working near travel lanes, building and maintaining Arizona’s highway system.  

On April 17 during National Work Zone Awareness Week, Go Orange Day is a day when anyone could wear orange to show their support for work zone safety. And ADOT employees showed up in all shades of orange not only to call attention to work zone safety issues, but also to remember and honor ADOT workers who have died on the job. 

Although the week is drawing to a close, drivers should remember the following tips to help keep everyone safe:

  • Pay attention: Observe and obey posted warning signs.
  • Expect the unexpected: Speed limits might be lowered, travel lanes could be narrowed and people may be working around the work zone space.
  • Slow down: Speeding is one of the leading causes of work zone crashes.
  • Don’t tailgate: The most common crash in a work zone is the rear-end collision.

ADOT marks Work Zone Awareness Week

ADOT marks Work Zone Awareness Week

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT marks Work Zone Awareness Week

ADOT marks Work Zone Awareness Week

April 15, 2024

Work zones are temporary. Actions behind the wheel can last forever

PHOENIX – Building and maintaining Arizona’s vast highway system isn’t an easy job, and to do it, Arizona Department of Transportation crews spend a lot of time near traffic as it rushes by. 

That closeness to oncoming traffic can come with serious safety risks when motorists speed through work zones or choose to drive dangerously. That’s why during this year’s Work Zone Awareness Week, ADOT is calling on motorists to be patient and alert when driving through work zones so everyone can get home safely. 

The theme of this year’s Work Zone Awareness Week, which runs April 15-19, is “Work zones are temporary. But actions behind the wheel can last forever.” Highway improvement project work is not permanent, but crashes that lead to serious injuries or fatalities can have lasting impacts. And it’s important for drivers to play their part in reducing work zone injuries and fatalities.

“All drivers can help keep themselves and workers safe by slowing down and being alert in work zones,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “Work zones are designed to keep drivers and passengers safe, while crews work to improve Arizona’s highways and, ultimately, give you a better driving experience.” 

According to the Federal Highway Administration, about 80% of work zone fatalities nationwide were drivers and their passengers in 2021. 

Statewide law enforcement crash reports show that since 2019 at least 59 people have been killed in work zone-related crashes along all roads in Arizona, including local streets and state highways. Arizona work zone crash statistics over the past five years include the following:

  • 2019: 15 fatalities, 22 serious injuries
  • 2020: 11 fatalities, 23 serious injuries 
  • 2021: 13 fatalities, 23 serious injuries
  • 2022: 11 fatalities, 29 serious injuries
  • 2023*: 9 fatalities, 15 serious injuries (*preliminary: all 2023 crash reports not yet analyzed) 

It’s important to expect the unexpected in a work zone — lanes may be restricted, speed limits may be reduced and people may be working on or near the roads.  

Remember to drive alert and pay attention to signage, workers and other vehicles moving around in the work zone. Slow down and avoid tailgating as speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes and rear-end collisions are the most common types of crashes in work zones.

Visit azdot.gov/work-zone for more information. 

Why leaving barriers in place in work zones protects everyone

Why leaving barriers in place in work zones protects everyone

Why leaving barriers in place in work zones protects everyone

Why leaving barriers in place in work zones protects everyone

By Kathy Cline / ADOT Communications
February 1, 2024
Traffic barriers are in place on a highway

Occasionally, we’re asked why work zones that reduce travel lanes remain in place when crews aren’t present, like during overnight hours.

There are a few reasons, but the primary factor is safety, especially for the traveling public.

Keeping the public and workers safe is ADOT’s top priority. The installation of traffic control devices, including barriers, in work zones helps protect everyone. These barriers remain in place because work zones can have uneven surfaces and other hazards that would make driving in them dangerous when work is not occurring.

While some work zones see work occurring around the clock, breaks occur in some work zones. In most cases, it isn’t feasible – or safe – to remove barriers.

“If crews had to take the traffic control devices down again at night or at a time when a break occurs over a weekend, there’s a good chance the process of setting up again would have to start very close to when the pick-up work just ended,” said Kole Dea, an assistant state construction engineer.

Removing and setting up nightly single- or double-lane closures can cost thousands of dollars.

ADOT has a responsibility to complete projects safely, quickly and on-budget. Leaving barriers in place not only helps keep everyone safer, it helps keep projects on budget and on time.