Roadway Construction Zone Fatalities Hit Record High in 2002, Federal Data Show

Roadway construction zone-related fatalities have increased 70 percent since 1997, according to federal data recently posted at the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. The data, compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), shows that 1,181 people died in roadway construction zones in 2002-an increase of 102 deaths compared to 2001 figures.