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April 20, 2025 MDOT recognizes Work Zone Awareness Week April 21-25
JACKSON, MISS.— The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Gov. Tate Reeves are joining forces this week to remind the public, “Respect the zone so we all get home,” the theme for 2025 National Work Zone Awareness Week. To call attention to the life-and-death issues facing workers and the public in work zones, Gov. Tate Reeves has proclaimed April 21-25 as Work Zone Awareness Week in Mississippi.
MDOT crews leave the safety of their homes daily to ensure the state’s roads remain in the safest possible condition. Working only feet away from vehicles traveling at high speeds with distracted driving as prevalent as ever, the nature of this work puts roadside crews in harm’s way every day. While these crews work as safely as possible, their environment is often an unpredictable one, and their safety is in your hands.
“Every year, hundreds of people are killed in work zone-related crashes. Many are drivers, their passengers and pedestrians. That is why we ask Mississippi’s traveling public to do their part—work with us in making work zones safer,” said Brad White, MDOT executive director. “This means when you see orange, respect the work zone. Please slow down, pay attention and avoid all distractions.”
In 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were 891 total work zone fatalities nationwide, including an estimated 96,000 crashes inside work zones nationally. In Mississippi, there were four fatal crashes in work zones in 2022. What many fail to recognize is the majority of people killed in work zone crashes are motorists and their passengers. In 2022, 742 drivers and their passengers died in work zones nationally, making it all the more important for drivers to slow down and stay focused while approaching and passing through work zones.
Work zones are marked with signs and advanced warnings to give drivers as much notice as possible before entering the work zone. No matter how many signals are in place, no work zone is safe unless drivers pay attention and slow down. MDOT maintenance and construction staff are trained to work on Mississippi’s highways. However, regardless of the amount of training or how well a work zone is set up, these crews rely on the traveling public to keep them safe and help them get home to their families at the end of the day.
Knowing how to identify and follow advanced warning signs for the type of work zone motorists encounter can help prevent crashes. One of the best ways to stay safe is by simply paying attention to these advanced warning signs.
Stay safe while traveling through work zones with these travel tips:
“The spring maintenance season is here. Drivers will see and experience a lot of active work zones across the state. With distracted driving ever increasing, it is more important now than ever to respect the role we as drivers play in work zone safety,” said White. “The roadside workers you pass behind the barrels, cones and barricade are someone’s father, mother, son, daughter, friend or neighbor. Please work with us to ensure everyone makes it home safely at the end of the day.”
Highway work zones are meant to protect the traveling public and the highway workers on the side of the road. Highway work zones can often present unfamiliar traffic conditions. Examples of common work zones found on Mississippi highways, along with a complete list of tips, can be found at GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms. |
