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612 Work Zone Traffic Safety
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Temporary Traffic Control Plans

Risks in the Roadway

Workers in the roadway are also at risk of injury from a variety of general traffic vehicles passing or entering the work zone, such as:

  • drivers under the influence of alcohol
  • sleepy or impaired drivers
  • impatient, upset, or reckless drivers
  • drivers using cell phones or other inattentive drivers
  • law enforcement and emergency vehicles
  • disabled vehicles pulling in and parking
  • lost drivers looking for directions

The number of work zone and roadway crashes are increasing and the reason is clear: cell phone use is the primary cause of crashes in a large percentage of work zone and roadway incidents.

An 11-person construction crew was paving the northbound side of a 6-lane interstate highway. The far left and middle lanes of the highway were closed to traffic, with two pavers operating simultaneously in staggered positions. Hot asphalt was delivered to the site in tractor-trailers which queued on the left shoulder while waiting to back up to the pavers. A 34-year-old construction laborer was positioned adjacent to the far left lane, approximately 12 feet behind the paver's work area, shoveling old asphalt from around a catch basin. A tractor-trailer pulled away from the paver in the middle lane and began backing. The driver stopped when he heard other workers yelling. Exiting the vehicle, he found the laborer run over by the four left rear wheels. The laborer was pronounced dead at the scene [Massachusetts Department of Public Health].

Check out this short audio clip by Dan Clark of the theSafetyBrief.com that gives important tips for work zone safety.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-5. What is the primary cause for the increase in work zone and roadway incidents?