TRAVEL SAFER. TRAVEL SMARTER.
April 2024
STAY ALERT, STAY SAFE:
SAVE LIVES WITH WORK ZONE SAFETY
“Work zones are temporary. Actions behind the wheel can last forever.” The theme of National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week 2024, held April 15-19, is an excellent reminder of the importance of staying vigilant while driving: it may not be just your own life you save.

At KYTC District 6, we observed National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week with events all week long. The week began with a kickoff media event where Eric Cain, Superintendent for our Kenton County maintenance crew, discussed the importance of safe driving through work zones to keep crews safe. Tuesday brought safety talk topics for KYTC Worker Safety Training Day. And to round out the week, we took to social media to bring awareness of this week to the general public.

However, work zone safety can’t be limited to just one week. The month of April is also the beginning of construction season, and that means you’ll be seeing orange barrels and road crew workers for months to come.

We know, work zones can mean slower speed limits, flaggers, congestion and frustration. But for many people, they also mean a source of worry for family and friends who work on the road crew. 
Consider this: it’s only April, and there have already been 29 work zone crashes in District 6 alone.

In 2023, there were 1,251 work zone crashes in Kentucky. These resulted in 247 injuries and 17 deaths. Of those fatalities, 14 were motorists or passengers. Within District 6 itself there were 172 crashes and two fatalities.

Those numbers speak for themselves. Safety precautions such as reduced speed limits are in place for a reason: to protect drivers, passengers, and the construction workers who are just doing their jobs. Keep reading for tips on work zone awareness to protect yourself and the teams in the work zone.
Work Zone Safety Tips

  • Slow down. The most common crash in a highway work zone is a rear-end collision. Slow down and be prepared to stop, just in case.
  • Keep your eyes on the road. While you should always be avoiding distractions when driving, it’s even more important to do so in work zones where cars could stop quickly. Put your phone down, leave the radio where it is and stay focused on the road and cars in front of you.
  • Leave a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, as well as the work zone, workers and their equipment. Follow the three-second rule: pick a fixed object ahead of you. When the car ahead of you passes it, you should be able to count three seconds before you do. If you can’t, slow down and increase your following distance.
  • Be patient. We understand that sitting in traffic around a construction zone isn’t fun, but the best thing you can do is approach the situation with patience. Have a fun playlist, podcast or audiobook playing, enjoy conversation with others in your car, or turn on your favorite radio station. Construction workers are improving the road so your future trips will be better.
KYTC's Safety Efforts

KYTC has been working to increase safety in work zones through safety training and equipment innovations like these:
  • Adding temporary rumble strips around work zones. These rumble strips are made of heavy rubber and are portable for easy use when work zones change.
  • Employing crash cushion vehicles. These are large, truck-mounted shock absorbers with warning lights and a message board. The crash cushion is positioned on the shoulder of the highway a half-mile before stopped traffic, and it moves with the traffic queue.
  • Additional safety training for construction crew members. Construction teams are given ongoing safety training to ensure that they are following all possible safety guidelines. 
Project Updates

The Mt. Zion Rd. Interchange Improvement project, Richwood Rd. Interchange Improvement project, and I-71/75 Pavement Rehab in that area are all nearly complete. KYTC and its contractors are completing final inspections and corrective work for these projects. There are no ongoing traffic impacts, but please be aware of any workers who may be completing this corrective work.

In terms of active projects, there are five major projects happening currently in Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties: Donaldson Hwy. Widening, I-275 Pavement Rehab from Mineola Pike to Hebron, I-275 Pavement Rehab from the Campbell/Kenton county line to U.S. 25, Mineola Pike Widening and Mt. Zion Rd. Reconstruction from U.S. 25 to KY 1303.

Please be aware of these active work zones. You can find updated travel advisory information at DrivingNKYProgress.org or at the KYTC District 6 Roadshow.
Stay connected with us: info@DrivingNKYProgress.org