AGC Survey Results Highlight Work Zone Dangers – Awareness Week Events Focus Attention

AGC helped to focus attention on National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 22-28, with the release of the results of a survey of members and through participation in a National media event in St. Louis. AGC’s Highway and Transportation Division Chairman Tom Brown reported at a news conference in San Diego that 400 contractors responded to the survey with 68 percent indicating that there were vehicle crashes in their work zones in the past year with 28% reporting workers were injured and another 18% indicating there was at least one worker fatality. Respondants also said more than 50 percent of work zone crashes injure vehicle operators or users, and 15 percent of those crashes kill them. The survey also showed that work zone crashes have a pronounced impact on construction schedules and costs with 35 percent of the respondents indicating that work zone crashes during the past year forced them to temporarily shut down construction activity. Those delays were often lengthy, as 47 percent of those project shutdowns lasted 2 or more days. AGC members also said that 75 percent of contractors nationwide feel that tougher laws, fines and legal penalties for moving violations in work zones would reduce injuries and fatalities. And 66 percent of contractors nationwide agree that more frequent safety training for workers could help. At a separate event in St. Louis, Missouri, H&T Division Chairman Brown joined FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez, US Representative Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.), Mo DOT Director Kevin Keith, members of the Missouri Highway Commission and other local officials in the Work Zone Awareness Week kickoff event. This year’s theme is "Don't Barrel Through Work Zones - Drive Smart to Arrive Alive" and that message was delivered by the various speakers. This marks the 13th year that AGC has partnered with AASHTO, FHWA, the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and ARTBA to coordinate and sponsor the week. Many AGC chapters participate in similar events with their own state DOTs. Overall National statistics indicate that there has been progress in the effort to reduce crashes and fatalities. U.S. DOT reports there were 576 deaths in highway work zones in 2010, the most recent data available, down 15 percent from 2009’s total of 680 and far below the 1,006 fatalities recorded in 2006. Media coverage of AGC’s survey and the Work Zone Awareness Week message was extensive. For more information, please contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.