The numbers demand attention: 899 road users died in work zone crashes in 2023. Work zone fatalities increased by 50% between 2013 and 2023, and the 2025 AGC Work Zone Awareness Survey found that 60% of highway contractors reported that commercial motor vehicles crashed into their work zones. Critically, around four out of five work zone fatalities involve drivers and passengers in cars—not workers—underscoring shared risk across the traveling public.
Work zones can start at any time of year and last for varying durations, presenting unexpected situations for motorists that require increased awareness and caution. Safety plans are critical in these unpredictable, high-risk environments. Transportation-related incidents are a leading cause of fatal work injuries, making prevention strategies essential for worker safety.
National Work Zone Awareness Week 2026 (April 20–24), hosted by Connecticut work zone safety campaigns, uses the theme “Safe Actions Save Lives.” ABC Carolinas aligns with this effort as members face more lane closures, night work, and complex traffic patterns across I-85, I-77, and I-95 during the 2026 construction season.
Work zone safety is a strategic business issue for commercial contractors operating merit shop projects across North and South Carolina. Active corridor work includes I-85 interchange upgrades near Gastonia, I-77 managed lanes around Charlotte, and I-95 widening through Florence and Lumberton. The NC data center buildout adds temporary work zones on site access roads and utility corridors, while contractors should also address construction workforce mental health and suicide prevention.
Higher truck volumes serving Wilmington and Charleston ports increase exposure. NC and SC Move Over laws require drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching roadside work—enforcement supports your crews. Safety performance directly impacts your ability to win DOT work, manage insurance costs, and protect workers.
These priorities form the operational playbook for every active work zone in 2026, emphasizing the importance of safe driving in work zones:
Professional drivers and new drivers alike must obey work zone signs, and career-start training pathways should emphasize these expectations early. Expect sudden stops, maintain extra space between your vehicle and the car in front of you to prevent rear-end collisions, and stay alert. Driving distracted remains a leading cause of crashes.
The first major FHWA update in 20 years now requires positive protection devices—concrete barriers or movable systems—where:
This affects most I-85, I-77, and I-95 projects. Contractors must update internal standards, budget for barrier inventory, and train field staff on safe installation. ABC Carolinas will provide briefings, direct contact support, and template checklists to help members implement the rule competitively.
| Day | Theme | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 20 | Training Day | Schedule flagger recertification and supervisor decision-making sessions |
| Tuesday, April 21 | National Kickoff | Host jobsite events with leadership; raise awareness using national statistics |
| Wednesday, April 22 | Go Orange Day | Outfit teams in ANSI-compliant orange; capture group photos |
| Thursday, April 23 | Social Media Storm | Share safety tips and project spotlights; support campaigns online. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has provided shareable materials, such as social media graphics and printed materials, to help raise awareness about safe driving in work zones. |
| Friday, April 24 | Moment of Silence | Lead a coordinated pause honoring lives lost; review corrective actions |
| Public awareness campaigns, like the ‘Obey the Orange’ initiative, are designed to educate drivers about the dangers of work zones and encourage them to slow down and pay attention when approaching these areas. |
Pre-shift: Verify TCP setup, confirm speed management devices, check flagger positions and escape routes, ensure Class 2/3 apparel is clean, test radios, and use a map or traffic app to identify active work zones and plan detours when possible.
During-shift: Maintain approved traffic patterns, monitor large vehicles for speeding, log near-misses, protect pedestrians and wheel traffic from live lanes, and learn from safety briefings and incident data to improve work zone safety practices.
Post-shift: Document TCP inspections with photos, review any violations, brief the next course of workers, download incident data, and encourage teams to learn from the day’s incidents and feedback.
Enroll company vehicle operators in Move Over law refreshers and chapter safety events. Fines and interest in compliance protect your route to winning public contracts, and ABC Carolinas membership strengthens your competitive position.
ABC Carolinas helps commercial contractors build complete safety programs through construction safety training, flagger certification, and apprenticeship pathways. In some states, drivers may be instructed to complete a work zone safety course after violations or as part of licensing requirements, and completing such a course is often a prerequisite for obtaining certain permits or licenses. For example, Oklahoma requires teens obtaining their intermediate driver’s license to complete the Oklahoma Work Zone safety course. Various states offer free or required work zone safety courses for both teens and adults to promote safe driving in work zones. Our advocacy ensures that NC and SC contractors’ perspectives and chapter leadership are represented in regulatory discussions. Register for upcoming safety and networking events and access our safety-first culture hub for direct support, policies, and toolbox talk materials.
Positive protection is required when speeds are 45 mph or higher, volumes are high, or work zones last two weeks or more on federal-aid routes. Consult project documents and your traffic control designer. Map your plan and document the rationale for claims protection.
Common violations include speeding, ignoring flagger instructions, phone distractions, and failing to reduce speed or exercise extra caution near large vehicles. Report patterns to supervisors for law enforcement coordination. Never confront drivers—prioritize your escape route.
Focus on high-impact, low-cost measures: rigorous toolbox talks, strict TCP adherence, and ensuring all workers have proper apparel. Leverage ABC Carolinas safety and management education programs, training discounts, and free checklists. Track leading indicators like near-miss reports and participate in the STEP Safety Management System as your prerequisite for improvement without sponsors or expensive technology.
