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Work Zone Safety

W O R K Z O N E S A F E T Y

Work zones are an essential component of maintaining the roads of El Paso County. Work Zones are areas of roadwork activities that include workers, moving vehicles, road closures, and detours. The duration of work zones varies depending on the project. Although work zones are year-round, they are most common in the summer. Work zones help separate construction and maintenance activities from traffic, ensuring the safety of both road users and workers. The presence of workers and the movement of work vehicles, coupled with changes in traffic patterns, detours, and closures, increase the risks of crashes, injuries, and fatalities in work zones.

Statistics in the United States, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse and Federal Highway Administration:

Between 2019 and 2020, fatal crashes in work zones increased by 1.4 percent.

In 2020, there were an estimated 102,000 work zone crashes.

In 2020, there were 774 work zone fatal crashes resulting in 857deaths – 117 of which were workers.

Most work zone crashes are rear-ended collisions.

Major contributing factors in work zone crashes include distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield to the right-ofway and following too closely.

Work zone safety is everyone's responsibility. Every day, we want roadway workers to have a safe working environment, as well as travelers to get to their destination safely.

Stay safe while traveling through work zones with these tips:

Research your route before you get on the road. Use detours when possible, to avoid work zones.

Pay attention to signage that indicates reduced speeds, closures, detours.

Avoid distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, eating and drinking, changing the radio station, etc.

Obey the posted speed limits. Do not speed in work zones.

Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.

Watch for workers, drive with caution.

Turn headlights on during evening and overnight hours

Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.

Expect delays and be patient.

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