RALEIGH, NC — With spring building season set to accelerate, state government officials are asking drivers to travel even more defensively and heed all speed limit signs when coming upon work zones. In a goodwill gesture toward the added hazards of highway construction, Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed April Work Zone Awareness Month, and April 21-25 Work Zone Awareness Week.

This year, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, NCDOT, is proud to sponsor the national campaign to create awareness about safety in work zones during National Work Zone Awareness Week.

Too many people get killed or injured badly in work zones,” said Joey Hopkins, N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary. “These accidents and injuries can be avoided if the drivers would slow down, keep their eyes open, and drive carefully when driving their vehicles.”.

More than 217 people lost their lives in work zones between the years 2019 to 2024, and among them, 47 people were killed last year itself in North Carolina. Two were workers, eight pedestrians, and 37 drivers in the fatal accidents, and it shows the dangerous situation brought about by the negligence of the drivers when they fail to take precautions.

Actually, speeding and distracted driving are among the leading causes of work zone accidents and account for more than half of work zone crashes. Employees being often placed close to moving traffic, even slight mistakes can lead to deadly outcomes.

“Work zone safety is a shared responsibility,” said Mark Ezzell, Director of the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Work zones tend to be dangerous because workers are in close proximity to speeding traffic. That’s why it’s especially important for drivers to be alert and not distracted. In work zones, there is less room for error.”

In an effort to further this initiative, NCDOT is hosting a press conference on April 22 at the State Fairgrounds and will be distributing educational materials throughout the week. The department also created a national poster for the current year’s campaign with the tagline: “Respect the Zone So We All Get Home.” Transportation departments from around the country will be using the poster as part of their own work zone safety campaigns.

The National Work Zone Memorial will also be dedicated during the April 22 ceremony to honor lives lost in work zones across America.

In conjunction with the campaign, NCDOT encourages drivers to follow simple principles of safety: slow down, end distractions, buckle up, and never drive impaired. In doing so, drivers can help keep workers and other drivers safe.

For more information on Work Zone Awareness Month and Work Zone Awareness Week in North Carolina, visit the NCDOT website.