Work Zone Safety
National Work Zone Awareness Week
Employees with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the transportation construction industry participate in National Work Zone Awareness Week, held each year in early April.
In 2008, it's scheduled for April 7-11. 
On Monday, April 7, at 2 p.m., representatives of VDOT and the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA) gathered at the VDOT Workers’ Memorial, on Interstate 64 East near Afton Mountain, to mark the week and recognize those who died building Virginia’s highway system.
VDOT Commissioner David Ekern and VTCA Executive Vice President Jeffrey Southard spoke.Video (WMV, 1:45, 2.75 MB), transcript (PDF, 31 KB), slide show
Eleven highway safety cones, signed by VDOT employees and VTCA members, were placed in front of the memorial. These represented the 11 people (10 motorists and one highway contractor) who died in state-maintained work zones in 2007.
The memorial honors state highway transportation workers who died of work-related causes. The names of 131 of those who died between 1928 and 2005 are engraved on it.
It was entirely self-funded with donations from VDOT employees and retirees, family members, businesses and organizations. No public funds were used.
A national media event was also planned for Tuesday, April 8, in Sacramento, Calif.
Audio/video:
- School program:
Video (WMV, :40, 1 MB), audio (MP3, :40, 293 KB), transcript
(PDF, 89 KB) - Driving in work zones:
Video (WMV, 1:35, 3 MB), audio (MP3, 1:35, 1.5 MB), transcript (PDF, 88 KB) - Work zone offenses:
Video (WMV, :55, 1.6 MB), audio (MP3, :55, 825 KB), transcript (PDF, 86 KB) - Highway worker dodges traffic:
Video (WMV, :51, 1.5 MB), transcript (PDF, 93 KB)
(Download the free Windows Media player here.)
VDOT and VTCA Are Reaching Thousands of Students
More than 97,000 teens have heard the message since the statewide outreach began in 2003. During the 2006-07 school year, about 160 volunteers spoke to more than 25,000 students.
VDOT employees and members of the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance are going to high schools with presentations to help students fully understand the consequences of not driving safely through work zones.
Year | Students |
|---|---|
2003-2004 | 16,952 |
2004-2005 | 25,013 |
2005-2006 | 29,788 |
2006-2007 | 25,400 |
Total | 97,153 |
Help Make Highways Safer
- Check work zones across Virginia
- Work zone related Web sites for travel outside Virginia
- Contact a district coordinator for work zone safety
- Contact a VDOT high school presentation coordinator for educational needs
- Tips on what you can do to increase safety
Media
The "Stay in the Picture" Newsroom has links to statistics, press releases and downloadable public service announcements.
For dramatic footage of a VDOT employee’s narrow escape from injury or death in a work zone, watch this video (WMV, :51, 1.5MB), transcript (PDF, 93 KB)
For Kids and Teens
Staying Safe: Exploring Virginia's Roadways Geared for 10 to 12-year-olds, this publication is designed to help pre-teens be responsible and knowledgeable road users by teaching them about Virginia's roadways including work zones.
To order, send an e-mail to Joan.Morris@vdot.virginia.gov or call (703) 383-2465.
Adventures in Driving: Survive the Ride (PDF 1.7 MB) is designed to help teenagers make the transition from passengers to safe drivers.The guide is aimed at reducing the high crash and fatality rate in this age group. See page 7 for how to travel through a work zone safely.
Video: "A Sudden Change in Plans" (7:40, WMV, 6.5 MB), transcript (PDF, 109 KB)
The Stay in the Picture Classroom has a poster you can download, and a Teacher's Guide (PDF, 546 KB) for resources, information and activities for work zone awareness. Download a Stay in the Picture (PDF 1.65 MB) brochure.
