Work Zone Safety

 

Focus in Work Zones: Drive Like You Work Here

The work zone safety campaign urges all motorists to focus, slow down and stay alert when driving through or near work zones. Motorists should also move over a lane when it is safe to do so to leave room for roadway workers to safely do their jobs. MDOT SHA teams are working on hundreds of projects across Maryland: mowing, repairing pot holes and building/repairing roads and ​bridges – making our State s​afer and m​ore acc​​essible. For construction a​nd maintenance teams, the roadway is their office so please, drive like you or someone you love works on the side of ​the road.

​We understand roadway work zones can result in delays and frustrations. Spring and summer are heavy roadway construction seasons and there are tools available to help you plan ahead. For a complete listing of major roadway projects in Maryland, click on Project Portal.

In work zones, there is little to no margin for driving error. Driving too fast, inattentively or aggressively through a roadway work zone places the lives of roadway workers at risk. At the same time, you’re also risking your life and the lives of your loved ones. One out of two people who are injured or who lose their lives in highway work zones are motorists.​.

MDOT SHA workers fix potholes in Howard County 2022 

Workers filling potholes in Howard County. Additional work zone photos are at the MDOT SHA Flickr page.

MDOT SHA Commemorates National Work Zone Safety Awareness 

In an effort to keep highway workers, drivers and passengers safe, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is calling on all Marylanders to promote work zone safety and to follow safe driving practices in work zones.

Go Orange Proclamation

Proclamation, Go Orange, Governor Wes Moore

MDOT SHA joins the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in recognizing National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). FHWA has partnered with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and state departments of transportation to coordinate and sponsor media events to bring awareness to work zone safety. 

​​Maryland statistics on traffic crashes and fatalities.

Work Zone Related Crashes 


         

​Click on the thumbnail below to see FHWA national statistics on traffic crashes and fatalities. Additional information is at FHWA Work Zone Facts and Statistics and FHWA Work Zone Awareness Week.

FHWA Fact Sheet
         

Kids: Click on the thumbnail below to play the Work Zone Safety Awareness Word Search!

Work Zone Safety Word Search

Click here for the Work Zone Safety Awareness word search answer key

Click on one of the images below to save a Work Zone Safety Graphic

Work Zone Safety graphic #1​​​

Work Zone Safety Graphic #1

Work Zone Safety graphic #2​​
Work Zone Safety Graphic #2

Maryland Safe Zones 

 

The Maryland SafeZones program allows the Maryland State Police and Maryland Transportation Authority Police to enforce the speed limit in highway work zones with automated camera and speed measuring equipment.

The Maryland SafeZones program was created to improve safety for both workers and motorists. Nationally, four out of every five people killed in highway work zone crashes are motorists.

In work zones where SafeZones Automated Speed Enforcement systems are deployed, drivers are slowing down, as evidenced by the decrease in percentage of citations issued at these work zones by nearly 90 percent. When the program began, approximately seven out of every 100 drivers in SafeZones enforced work zones were exceeding the speed limit by 12 mph or more. Today, on average, fewer than one driver out of every 100 are receiving citations in SafeZones enforced work zones.

Click here to visit the Maryland SafeZones website