As construction season ramps up, so does the risk to those working on or near our nation’s roads. According to the US Department of Transportation, there is one work zone fatality for every 4 billion vehicle-miles traveled and for every $112 million spent on roadway construction. And those numbers are rising. Between 2020 and 2021, work zone fatalities increased by 10.8%, while overall roadway fatalities rose by 10.3%.
With worker safety on the line every time a project begins, it’s critical to educate both employees and the public about how to reduce risks and protect lives.
National Work Zone Awareness Week
National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), observed this year from April 21–25, is an annual campaign that aligns with the start of the construction season. Its goal? To encourage safe driving in and around highway work zones and bring nationwide attention to the importance of protecting roadway workers.
The campaign is a collaborative effort between state departments of transportation, national road safety organizations, government agencies, private companies and individuals. The key message: Drivers must use extra caution when traveling through work zones.
The History of NWZAW
NWZAW officially got going in 1999, but the idea began in 1997 when a group of Virginia Department of Transportation staff members wanted to dedicate a week to raise awareness about work zone safety among all district employees before construction projects picked up during the warmer months. The idea caught on, with the California Department of Transportation launching a statewide public awareness campaign soon after. In December 1999, the American Traffic Safety Services Association approached the Federal Highway Administration and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials to launch the first official NWZAW in spring of 2000.
The goals for NWZAW are to:
- Each year, NWZAW supports its mission by:
- Raising public awareness about the need for extra caution in work zones
- Promoting consistent, actionable safety tips
- Encouraging training and adoption of best practices in work zone safety
- Engaging both contractors and workers to address how driver behavior affects safety—and how to mitigate it
- Building partnerships with organizations committed to improving work zone safety
How You Can Take Part in NWZAW 2025
NWZAW 2025 will be held April 21-25, hosted by North Carolina Department of Transportation. NWZAW highlights the deadly dangers of inattention at highway work areas. The 2025 weeklong commemoration includes:
- Work Zone Safety Training Day – April 21. Work Zone Safety Training Day emphasizes the importance of laying the groundwork for safety through training of personnel. Companies were encouraged to pause during the workday for safety demonstrations, discussions about safety policies and other prevention steps.
- National Kickoff Event – April 22. The NWZAW 2025 kickoff event will be hosted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) at a public site in the state.
- Go Orange Day – April 23. All roadway safety professionals across the country are encouraged to wear orange to proudly show their support of work zone safety. NWZAW and Go Orange Day are especially important to the families of victims who have lost their lives in work zones.
- Social media storm – April 24. Organizations, companies, institutions and individuals are urged to share messages and use hashtags #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety throughout social media between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET.
- Moment of Silence – April 25. The Moment of Silence started in 2022 and encourages companies and families to join together for a moment of silence as a tribute to the people who lost their lives in a work zone incident.
Other resources available include:
- ATSS Foundation – National Work Zone Safe Teen Driver program
- CDC/NIOSH – Distracted driving and risk factors: Motor vehicle safety at work and Parents are key to safe teen drivers
- OSHA – Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes
- NSC – Safe Driving Kit
- NHTSA – Distracted Driving
- WHO – Mobile phone use: a growing problem of driver distraction
- FHWA – Work Zone Facts and Statistics
- FMCSA – Work Zone Safety sharable material
- National Work Zone Safety Information Clearninghouse – WorkZoneSafey.org
Train Your Team to Stay Safe—Every Day
Participating in awareness weeks like NWZAW is a powerful reminder of the real risks construction workers face daily—and the steps we can take to keep them safe.
Arcoro’s Learning Management System (LMS) helps your company prioritize safety through accessible, consistent training. With Arcoro, employees can complete training at their convenience, and you can easily load pre-approved OSHA content and other educational materials, including safety programs from partners like SkillSignal.
Contact us today to learn how Arcoro’s LMS can support your team year-round.
