PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) wants to remind motorists to be cautious while driving in work zones during National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Work Zone Awareness Week, which runs from April 15-19, aims to spread important safety information concerning the potential dangers of work zones, both for workers and for motorists.
According to VDOT, in 2023, there were 13 work zone crashes in the State of Virginia, and a combined 4,100 crashes with nearly 1,700 injuries reported. 22 fatalities were reported in the year 2022.
The theme for 2024 is “Work Zones are temporary. Actions behind the wheel can last forever.”
Work Zone Awareness Week, which started in Virginia’s Bristol district in 1997, started to become a nationally recognized event by 2000.
Throughout the week, VDOT will host several events, hoping to encourage drivers to stay focused and safe while driving through work zones. The schedule can be found below:
- Safety Stand Up day – April 15: VDOT encourages all construction and maintenance industries who work on Virginia highways to make time for a project-wide safety training meeting and safety focused discussions.
- Annual ceremony – April 17 at 4 p.m.: VDOT will host their annual ceremony at the VDOT Workers Memorial on Afton Mountain. People are also encouraged to wear orange to promote work zone safety
- Moment of silence – April 19 at 10 a.m.: VDOT will hold a moment of silence for those who have been killed while working in work zones
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.