‘Respect the zone so we all get home’, DelDOT urges for construction safety

State officials gathered at the East Camden Bypass this week to highlight the importance of driver safety during National Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual campaign aimed at reducing crashes and fatalities in highway work zones.

Secretary of Transportation Shanté Hastings, joined by Representative Lyndon Yearick, Delaware State Police Lieutenants India Sturgis and Mark Dawson, and DelDOT workers, emphasized the risks road crews face daily and called on drivers to slow down and stay alert.

“Over the past three years, 65 DelDOT employees have been injured in work zone crashes and of those 65, 13 were seriously injured,” Hastings said. “When you see the signs, when you see the flashing lights, when you see the barrels and cones, slow down, eliminate distractions, stay alert, and be extra cautious. By doing these things, motorists can help reduce work zone crashes on our roadways. Please keep our employees safe so they can go home to their families, too,” continued Secretary Hastings.

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This year’s campaign theme, “Respect the zone, so we all get home,” underscores the life-and-death stakes of inattentive driving in work zones.

Though highway workers are especially vulnerable, data shows that drivers and their passengers account for about 80% of work zone crash fatalities.

According to national statistics, an average of one highway worker and seven motorists are killed each week in the U.S. due to work zone crashes.

Speeding, tailgating, and distracted driving are among the most common causes.

Officials also reminded the public of simple safety tips, such as obeying signage, avoiding lane changes, maintaining a safe following distance, and reducing speed—especially when approaching toll booths or active construction zones.

First observed in 1999, National Work Zone Awareness Week is a collaborative effort between the Federal Highway Administration, American Traffic Safety Services Association, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Since its inception, the initiative has grown to include state agencies and advocacy groups nationwide.

Residents are encouraged to click here, and take the Be DelAWARE pledge in support of eliminating roadway deaths here.