Work Zone Awareness

"You Play a Role in Work Zone Safety . . . Work With Us”

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to remind drivers to be attentive while traveling through work zones during the busy summer travel months. 

“Statistics from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse show there were 774 fatal crashes in work zones resulting in 857 deaths in 2020 across the United States,” said Joel Jundt, Secretary of Transportation. “The statistics demonstrate that everyone needs to “Work With Us” by taking personal responsibility to eliminate all distractions while driving, staying focused on the road, and obeying speed limits in work zones. We want roadway workers, as well as the traveling public, to arrive home safely each and every day.”

Through National Work Zone Awareness Week, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and its partners hope to bring attention to the critical issue of road user and worker safety in and around work zones. It’s important for everyone to do their part to be safe. 

Ways for public involvement:

As part of NWZAW, everyone is encouraged to participate in Go Orange Dayon Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Demonstrate support for highway construction employees across the state by wearing orange apparel and posting photos on social media using the hashtags #NWZAW, #Orange4Safety, or #SDDOT.

Youth and family Activities:

SDDOT also created construction themed coloring sheets, crossword puzzles, and word finds for young families and elementary classrooms to use to promote safety awareness. Youth construction themed materials are available free to download at https://dot.sd.gov/inside-sddot/of-interest/work-zone-awareness-week. On this site, find NWZAW informational facts along with SDDOT employee photos and awareness-building videos.

To learn more about national efforts around NWZAW, visit https://www.nwzaw.org/.