Work Zone Safety

Georgia DOT reminds everyone that roadway work zones are hazardous for workers and for the public. In fact, most work zone fatalities are drivers or passengers. Whether you work in an office or on the roadways, everyone deserves to get home safely. Please remember to practice safe driving when traveling through work zones.

‭(Hidden)‬ Announcements

NEWS

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign held at the start of the construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. Everyone plays a role in work zone safety. This year’s theme “Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives.” is a call to all motorists to help keep our workers safe by following these steps when traveling through a work zone: slow down, avoid distractions, follow all posted signs, and watch out for workers.

EVENTS

Kickoff

Monday, April 26

Georgia DOT will kick off the week-long observance to honor victims who have died in the line of duty.

DOWNLOAD POSTER

Work Zone Worker Appreciation Day

Tuesday, April 27

Share a message of encouragement on social media for a HERO, construction worker, or other Georgia DOT employees who work in work zones. Everyone is also encouraged to take a moment of silence in honor of workers who have died in work zone-related incidents.

VIEW SOCIAL MEDIA HUB

National Go Orange Day

Wednesday, April 28

Go Orange for Safety Facebook Frame
Help us observe National Work Zone Awareness Week by adding an orange ribbon to your Facebook profile photo. It’s easy to do!

Instructions: Click the button below, then scroll down until you find the orange ribbon for your display profile. The name of the filter is “National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week” and the creator is “Georgia DOT”. The frame is available from April 25 -30.

ACCESS FRAME

Learning About Safety

Thursday, April 29

Photo Challenge

Throughout the week photos will be posted on Georgia DOT's social media channel for the public to identify the differences in each set of images.

VIEW SOCIAL MEDIA HUB

RESOURCES

National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse

NWZAW Website

NWZAW Factsheet

NWZAW 2021 Poster

FACTS & INFO

Work Zone Factsheet

The top causes for fatal work zone crashes are often associated with distraction, driving too fast for conditions and driver impairment (under the influence or fatigued).

Obey the Rules. Stay Safe

Motorists traveling through a work zone should expect the unexpected. It can make the difference between life and death. Pay attention, slow down and watch for workers. GDOT is committed to keeping workers and travelers safe.

BY THE NUMBERS

60

Georgia DOT employees have died in work zone-related incidents since 1973 when accurate record keeping began.

53%

Work zone crashes are associated with roadway departure and rear-end collisions.

17,297

Total number of crashes in Georgia work zones, resulting in 5,123 injuries and 24 fatalities in 2020.

Fallen GDOT Workers

First Name	Last Name	Year

Safety Tips

10 Tips for Approaching and Driving in Work Zones
Travel only if you must Governor Brian Kemp’s executive order to fight the spread of COVID-19 encourages Georgians to travel only for essential needs.
Don’t Cut Their Stories Short Obey the rules of work zones: Pay attention Slow down (even in lighter than normal traffic) Watch for workers.
Expect the Unexpected Things may change quickly. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be closed, narrowed, or shifted, and people may work on or near the road.
Slow Down. Don’t Tailgate Less congestion during Georgia’s shelter-in-place order is not an invitation to exceed the speed limit. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you, and the construction workers and their equipment.
Obey Road Crew Flaggers and Pay Attention to Signs Failure to obey speed limit signs or a flagger’s traffic control directions can result in hefty fines and/or imprisonment.
Stay Alert and Minimize Distractions Pay full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or using cell phones and other electronic devices.
Keep Up with Traffic Flow Do not slow down to gawk at road work.
Know Before You Go Expect delays, leave early and schedule enough time to drive safely. For 24/7 real-time traffic information, call 511 or visit www.511ga.org before you get into the car. And follow Georgia DOT on Twitter for additional updates.
Be Patient, Stay Calm Crews are working to improve the road and to make your future drive better.
Wear Your Seatbelt It is your best defense in a crash. And make sure your passengers are buckled up.

10 Tips for Approaching and Driving in Work Zones

Travel only if you must

Governor Brian Kemp’s executive order to fight the spread of COVID-19 encourages Georgians to travel only for essential needs.

Don’t Cut Their Stories Short

Obey the rules of work zones:

Pay attention
Slow down (even in lighter than normal traffic)
Watch for workers.

Expect the Unexpected

Things may change quickly. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be closed, narrowed, or shifted, and people may work on or near the road.

Slow Down. Don’t Tailgate

Less congestion during Georgia’s shelter-in-place order is not an invitation to exceed the speed limit. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you, and the construction workers and their equipment.

Obey Road Crew Flaggers and Pay Attention to Signs

Failure to obey speed limit signs or a flagger’s traffic control directions can result in hefty fines and/or imprisonment.

Stay Alert and Minimize Distractions

Pay full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or using cell phones and other electronic devices.

Keep Up with Traffic Flow

Do not slow down to gawk at road work.

Know Before You Go

Expect delays, leave early and schedule enough time to drive safely. For 24/7 real-time traffic information, call 511 or visit www.511ga.org before you get into the car. And follow Georgia DOT on Twitter for additional updates.

Be Patient, Stay Calm

Crews are working to improve the road and to make your future drive better.

Wear Your Seatbelt

It is your best defense in a crash. And make sure your passengers are buckled up.

Georgia Driving Laws

Distracted driving is a key cause of many crashes, and this especially applies in work zones. In addition to DUI and impaired driving laws, Georgia driving laws include:

Georgia’s Hands-Free Law

Drivers, put down the phone. Georgia’s Hands-Free Law requires hands-free technology when drivers use cell phones and other electronic devices. It is illegal for a driver to hold a phone in their hand or use their body to support a phone.

View Hands-Free Law

Georgia's Move-Over Law

Move over for stopped emergency vehicles. Georgia’s Move-Over Law requires drivers to move over one lane if possible when approaching stationary highway maintenance and construction workers, HERO and CHAMP operators, law enforcement or emergency vehicles, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck operators and utility service vehicles flashing emergency lights. If it unsafe to move over, slow down below the posted speed and be prepared to stop.

View Move-Over-Law

Georgia's Seat Belt Law

Buckle up. While Georgia law requires that front seat passengers wear a safety belt, GDOT recommends that all occupants buckle up. In a crash, an unrestrained passenger can injure or kill another occupant.

View Seat Belt Law

Untitled 1

Obey the Rules in Work Zones

Motorists traveling through a work zone should expect the unexpected. It can make the difference between life and death.

Pay Attention
Slow Down
Watch for Workers

Other Programs

‭(Hidden)‬ GDOT Workers Killed in Work Zones

First Name	Last Name	Year
Change Page: \| Displaying Page 1, items 1 to 20
Carey	Ellerbee	2018
Moses B.	King	2016
Spencer D.	Pass	2011
Troy J.	Nix	2008
Tommy G.	Hudson	2005
Priscilla A.	Donald	2004
Danny C.	Wilbanks	2002
Randy D.	Reece	2001
Gerry D.	Collins	1999
Robert	Golway	1998
Harry	Duncan	1996
Doug	Casey	1996
Thomas	Gassett	1996
Norman	Slaton	1996
Ronnie	Carter	1996
Steve	Moore	1996
Dennis	Houston	1995
Rod	Smith	1994
Buddy	Teddar	1993
Jimmy	Norman	1990

Other Programs

Work Zone Facts

58

Georgia DOT workers died in work zones over the last four decades.

31,251

People Injured Each Year in Work Zone Crashes (2014)*

669

Work Zone Related Fatalities (2014)*

82%

Work Zone Fatalities are Drivers and Passengers, not Workers (2014)*

View Fact Sheet View Press Release


Drive Alert. Arrive Alive	Toward Zero Deaths	Move Over Law	Teens in the Driver Seat

Work Zone Safety // <![CDATA[ _spBodyOnLoadFunctionNames.push("setupPageDescriptionCallout"); // ]]>

​Work Zone Safety

‭(Hidden)‬ Announcements

NEWS

EVENTS

Kickoff

Monday, April 26

Work Zone Worker Appreciation Day

Tuesday, April 27

National Go Orange Day

Wednesday, April 28

Learning About Safety

Thursday, April 29

RESOURCES

FACTS & INFO

Work Zone Factsheet

Obey the Rules. Stay Safe

BY THE NUMBERS

60

53%

17,297

Travel only if you must

Don’t Cut Their Stories Short

Expect the Unexpected

Slow Down. Don’t Tailgate

Obey Road Crew Flaggers and Pay Attention to Signs

Stay Alert and Minimize Distractions

Keep Up with Traffic Flow

Know Before You Go

Be Patient, Stay Calm

Wear Your Seatbelt

Georgia’s Hands-Free Law

Georgia's Move-Over Law

Georgia's Seat Belt Law

Obey the Rules in Work Zones

Other Programs

Drive Alert Arrive Alive

See & Be Seen

511

Teens in the Driver's Seat

HERO

CHAMP

‭(Hidden)‬ GDOT Workers Killed in Work Zones

Other Programs

Work Zone Facts

58

31,251

669

82%

Drive Alert. Arrive Alive

Toward Zero Deaths

Move Over Law

Teens in the Driver Seat

Georgia DOT Employees Who Died in Work Zones

Work Zone Safety

Work Zone Safety