Work Zone Crashes Climb During Pandemic, Even as Traffic Ebbs

Work zone crashes and fatalities have increased in some states during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the drop in traffic. Highway workers are at more risk than ever as distracted drivers speed through work zones. States have tried different countermeasures. Many transportation departments try to protect their road workers by using truck-mounted attenuators. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed “Lyndon’s Law”, which allows the state to revoke the driver’s license of anyone who hits a highway or utility worker in a work zone or an emergency responder in an emergency zone. Pennsylvania State Department of Transportation started setting up automated systems with cameras and radar in March that detect and record motorists exceeding work zone speed limits by 11 mph or more, when workers are present. Ohio has set up air enforcement zones, radioing troopers if a car is going too fast in a work zone.