According to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and HCSS, motorists are almost twice as likely to die in a work zone crash as construction workers.

The new data highlights the need for stricter work zone safety laws and enforcement. 

“Every day tens of thousands of Americans work alongside our highways, often with little more between them and rushing traffic than an orange barrel. These workers are counting on the traveling public to slow down and pay attention, but too often, the public is letting them down,” said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, CEO of the association, according to a recent press release.

He noted that 60% of respondents reported at least one crash in the past year involving a moving vehicle at highway work zones where they operate, and nearly one-third of firms reported five or more crashes in the same time frame. 

Among those who reported work zone crashes, 30% resulted in injury to construction workers, and 13% resulted in the death of a construction worker. 

Work zone crashes are twice as likely to result in fatalities for drivers or passengers as for construction workers, with 24% of surveyed respondents reporting the death of drivers or passengers. 

Contractors are ultimately dissatisfied with current work zone laws and penalties, with 36% reporting that current penalties for moving violations in work zones are insufficient to deter unsafe driving practices. Another 39% say that while the penalties might be sufficient, enforcement is not. 

The AGC and HCSS released the following video urging motorists to obey traffic laws and lower their speed in work zones as the summer driving season gears up:

The association is pushing Congress to require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to collect comprehensive data on work zone crashes, including who is killed or injured in those crashes and to require states to create plans to reduce work zone crashes. AGC is also working with its network of chapters to push for better enforcement and education measures at the state level.

The work zone safety study was based on a nationwide survey of highway construction firms, the association, and HCSS conducted this April and May. Over 600 contractors completed the survey.

The results of this survey can be found here.