Highway Construction Zone Safety

While construction zones create additional hazards for drivers, highway workers are most at risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA), 658 people lost their lives in highway work zone accidents in 1997 alone. An additional 37,000 are injured each year. Because one of the deadliest hazards to highway workers is oncoming traffic, creating a safe environment for traffic is a major priority for project engineers and contractors. There are many ways for contractors and workers to keep themselves safe. One of the most effective safety methods is strict enforcement of state laws and local ordinances by law enforcement. Hiring police officers to patrol constructions zones may be worth the expense. Others have found unattended police cars and radar detectors help reduce speeds in construction zones.