Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Photo collage: temporary lane closure, road marking installation, cone with mounted warning light, and drum separated work zones.
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Program-Level Public Information and Outreach Examples

Public Information and Outreach Strategies

Program-level public information and outreach is important to drawing attention to the safety and mobility issues in work zones and encouraging drivers to be vigilant while driving through work zones. While several States have their own work zone outreach programs, there are also various programs available at the national level.

National Work Zone Awareness Week

Held annually, National Work Zone Awareness Week is designed to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones.

FHWA-Developed Resources

  • Work Zone Safety Brochures – produced by the FHWA Office of Safety
    • Work Zone Safety for Drivers (HTML, PDF 304KB)
    • Trucking Safely Through Work Zones (HTML, PDF 160KB)

Videos and Public Service Announcements

Examples of State DOT Outreach Campaigns

New Item 4/11/13 Webinar on Work Zone Awareness Week: Outreach Ideas and Strategies – Held on February 6, 2013

  • Recording
  • Transcript (HTML, PDF 84KB)
  • Virginia Presentation, by David Rush, Virginia Department of Transportation (HTML, PDF 3.7MB)
  • Texas Presentation, by Kelli Reyna, Texas Department of Transportation (HTML, PDF 2.1MB)
  • Missouri Presentation, by Julie Stotlemeyer, Missouri Department of Transportation (HTML, PDF 1.9MB)

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Example

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) "Know the RED Zones" campaign highlights areas with significantly reduced capacity during highway construction projects in the state. These areas are known as Red Zones. The goal of the campaign is to ensure travelers are aware of these Red Zones and to consider alternate routes, when available, before they get into the construction area. Alternatively, if they choose to drive through the project, the campaign aims to provide drivers with the latest information available for the safest possible travel. Travel tips and project information can be found on the RED Zones web site. Truckers are also be able to access restricted road and bridge information on alternate routes at this site.

Delaware DOT Example

In March 2008 the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) embarked on its most significant Work Zone Safety Awareness Campaign, employing a variety of marketing techniques to promote work zone safety. These techniques included radio ads, billboards on roadways, and buses decorated with work zone safety messages. DelDOT used the theme, "Hey! We're working here!" for the campaign. The campaign was part of a three-part year-long educational campaign that also focused on pedestrian and neighborhood safety.

Illinois DOT Example

The Illinois DOT launched a work zone safety campaign, entitled "Embrace the Orange", in response to an increase in work zone fatalities. The campaign's goals are to reduce work zone crashes and fatalities on Illinois roadways. The Embrace the Orange web site provides information about how to be safe in work zones, work zone standards and policies, information about photo speed enforcement and work zone crash statistics. Visitors to the web site are also encouraged to do their part to help save lives and sign the Work Zone Safety Pledge. The pledge asks motorists not to text and drive or talk on the phone in work zones. It also encourages motorists to be safe in work zones by obeying the posted speed limits at all times, pay attention to changing conditions and be courteous to other motorists.

Iowa DOT Example

On July 1, 2008 Iowa's fines for speeding in a work zone significantly increased. Speeding up to 10 mph over the legal limit costs drivers $150, 20 mph - $300, 25 mph - $500, and the fine over 25 is $1,000. The effort to increase work zone speeding penalties was led by an Iowa Department of Transportation maintenance worker who was struck by a vehicle while performing flagging operations. Iowa created a public outreach campaign to notify drivers about the new fines. The campaign includes a web site that provides background information about the activities leading up to implementation of the fines, a fact sheet, news releases, and new highway signs.

Missouri DOT Example

Missouri DOT (MoDOT) uses an online survey to gain driver feedback on its state highway work zones to evaluate visibility and traffic flow. Travelers can comment on advanced warning, speed limit, travel timeliness, and safety of the work zone. Compilation of the 1,191 surveys received between April and June 2011 resulted in a positive satisfaction rating of 96 percent for work zone traffic flow. Similar results were found for the first quarter of 2011 and overall, this is a four percent increase from the 92 percent customer satisfaction reported for 2010. MoDOT publishes the results as part of their ongoing performance monitoring program (MoDOT Tracker).

North Carolina DOT Example

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) created its Work Zone Safety Program in 1989 to promote safety and reduce fatalities in work zones. This program develops and disseminates promotional materials about work zone safety; develops public service announcements and videos; and provides materials to help educators teach about work zone safety. The program has its own mascots, Buddy Barrel and Connie Cone, who appear in promotional materials and are available for events. NCDOT developed a manual that provides tips and ideas on how to best use the mascots to generate exposure at events. Program initiatives include Operation Drive Smart, an effort to reduce the number of collisions in North Carolina's work zones; a video and other materials aimed at truck drivers, developed in partnership with Carolinas Associated General Contractors and the North Carolina Trucking Association; and a work zone safety poster contest for children.

Oregon DOT Example

The Oregon DOT (ODOT) has a work zone safety program that is aimed at reducing the number of injury and fatal traffic crashes that occur in highway work zones in Oregon. The program includes engineering, education, enforcement and emergency medical services. The ODOT work zone safety web site has public service announcements, facts and statistics, and brochures and flyers that provide safety tips for workers and drivers. In 2007, Oregon promoted work zone safety on a giant 48-foot by 18-foot curtain draped over ODOT's fleet trailer. In big, bold letters the bright orange curtain said, "Slow Down. Better Roads Ahead." The fleet trailer traveled the state and was also available for safety fairs and other special events.

Texas DOT Example

The Texas DOT (TxDOT) has seen a 35 percent decrease in work zone fatalities in 2009 from the previous year and attributes it to increased safety measures and public outreach efforts. TxDOT has a work zone safety web site that provides driver safety tips, facts and statistics about work zones in Texas, and public service announcements. It also includes print materials such as brochures, fact sheets, and posters, providing work zone safety information for motorists and workers.

Virginia DOT Example

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has a work zone safety web site that includes information on how VDOT observes National Work Zone Awareness Week; audio, video, and transcripts for several public service announcements; work zone statistics; and informational materials for kids and teens, including a teacher's guide that contains resources, information and activities for work zone awareness. As indicated on the web site, VDOT puts strong emphasis on work zone outreach to teenage drivers, having reached out to more than 97,000 teens since the statewide outreach began in 2003.

Additional Program-Level Public Information and Outreach Resources


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