Governor Ned Lamont, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) urged drivers on April 21 to prioritize safety as National Work Zone Awareness Week began. The event took place at the CTDOT maintenance garage in Farmington and marked the national kickoff for this year’s observance.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is held from April 20 to 24 and aims to honor workers who help keep construction zones safe, including highway crews, public works employees, utility companies, contractors, and law enforcement. CTDOT’s theme for this year is “Safe Actions, Save Lives,” emphasizing responsible driving in active work zones. Governor Lamont signed a proclamation recognizing the week in Connecticut.
“Every decision we make behind the wheel matters,” Governor Lamont said. “In work zones, a moment of distraction can have serious consequences. By slowing down, staying alert, and respecting roadway workers, we can help ensure everyone gets home safely.”
Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster said that safety is a top priority for the Trump Administration: “Under U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s leadership, we are calling on drivers to put down the phone, avoid distractions, obey posted speed limits, and focus on driving safely while traveling through active work zones. The lives of every highway worker depend on taking safe actions.” For more than 25 years, CTDOT’s volunteer-led Work Zone Safety Awareness Committee has worked to eliminate fatalities through education and outreach.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cited at the event between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2023 there were over two thousand crashes and twelve fatalities in Connecticut work zones; nationally there were nearly nine hundred fatalities last year alone.
CTDOT invites public participation with Go Orange Day on April 22 by wearing orange or posting photos online using hashtags such as #NWZAW or #ObeyTheOrange. On April 24 at noon a moment of silence will be observed statewide honoring those lost in work zone incidents.
