Arlington, VA — Almost half of the highway construction contractors who participated in a recent study believe the risk of work zone crashes is greater now than one year ago.
More than 600 firms across the United States took part in the annual Work Zone Awareness Survey, conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and software company HCSS.
Results show that 47% of contractors agreed that the risk of a crash is greater than it was a year ago; 51% said it was about the same. Sixty percent of the respondents experienced a work zone crash in the past year, and 32% reported five incidents or more.
Thirteen percent of the respondents reported a worker fatality as a result of a crash, while 24% observed a driver or passenger fatality.
“We can only make a difference if we continue to shine a light on the issues with real data, real stories and the real impact work zone safety has on people’s lives,” HCSS President and CEO Steve McGough said during a May 20 webinar presenting the survey results and work zone dangers. “We can never give up on the quest for zero work injuries. Zero is the only acceptable outcome.”
McGough outlined multiple strategies for aiding the effort, including incorporating work zone safety awareness components into driver’s education courses, driver’s license renewal tests and defensive driving courses.
He also called for expanded police presence at work zones, adding that the public must change its view of moving violations in work zones.
“They see it as revenue-generating for the state coffers or the city as opposed to that it’s about worker safety,” McGough said. “I don’t think they’re equating down to, ‘I need to slow down because someone’s life is on the line.’”
Contractor Lane Fouts, owner and CEO of Bartonville, TX-based FoutsCo Paving Co., agreed that drivers’ mindsets must change.
“It’s a partnership between the traveling public and the contractors, and if we can both think of each other, I hope that can reduce the accidents and fatalities we’ve been seeing,” Fouts said.
The webinar also explored how technology can improve work zone safety. One possible solution: an active-alerting system on vehicle navigation systems that inform drivers when workers are present.
“Drivers are distracted and they become desensitized,” said Michael Gallant, director of HaulHub, a software company in Boston. “And even with stronger work protections, it’s still proven to not be enough. Crews are operating just feet from traffic. Without a clear, real-time signal that work is happening now, drivers often don’t register that risk.”
