AGC: Work Zone Crashes up Despite Pandemic Traffic Drop

An annual survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and construction software provider HCSS found that 60 percent of highway contractors experienced work zone crashes over the past year. The pandemic-induced decline in vehicle traffic appears to have had little impact on work zone safety. Some contractors also reported that lower traffic levels made conditions less safe by encouraging many motorists to drive at faster speeds. Construction firms are taking steps to improve work zone safety via special training programs, new technology, and software. State departments of transportation are also testing a variety of ways to improve work zone safety for their crews and those of their contractors.