You Control the Safety in Work Zones: Worker Safety Is in Your Hands

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is urging motorists to prioritize safety in highway work zones, emphasizing that driver behavior is the most critical factor in preventing crashes, injuries, and fatalities. While law enforcement officers may patrol construction areas when available, ODOT notes that they cannot be present at every project, making drivers’ actions—slowing down, staying alert, and eliminating distractions—essential for protecting workers and other road users. With major I-5 construction projects underway, motorists should expect reduced speeds, lane closures, and active crews on the roadway. ODOT highlights that fines double in work zones but stresses that the true cost of unsafe driving is measured in lives, not dollars. The agency provides safety tips and reinforces that every driver’s decisions can have lasting consequences.