National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 7-11

Seattle – National Work Zone Awareness Week will take place April 7-11, with a national kick-off event planned for April 8 at the Washington State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct.

This year’s theme is Work Zone Speed: A Costly Mistake and will focus on the role of driver behaviors in injuries and fatalities in work zones.

According to a Federal Highway Administration fact sheet, speeding was involved in 36 percent of fatal crashes in construction and maintenance work zones in 2011.

The campaign will emphasize that drivers must be alert, remain aware of their surroundings, follow the speed limit and obey traffic control devices.

According to an American Traffic Safety Services Association press release, several high-level transportation officials are expected to attend the kick-off event.

National Work Zone Awareness Week takes place annually and is coordinated by ATSSA, FHWA and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.