New Campaign Aims to Improve Teenager Safety in Work Zones

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of teens, killing more than 6000 every year. Work zones prove to be additional hazards because a teenager is killed every 3 days from work zones and highway construction is expected to increase. The Federal Highway Administration and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association have developed a multifaceted campaign called “Turning Point: Roadway Work Zone Safety for New Drivers.” The purpose is to help new drivers understand the hazards they encounter driving through work zones and how they can travel through them safely. The program has five messages to young teens which are to know the work zone signs, pay attention to other drivers, stay focused by avoiding distractions, expect the unexpected, and be patient. Teens and their parents can learn more through the website www.workzonedriver.org. Or they can learn more through an interactive training tool, safety videos, collateral products and a resource database.