Safe Actions Save Lives: Statewide Work Zone Safety Campaign Launches April 20
Summary
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority launched a statewide work zone safety campaign called 'Safe Actions Save Lives' running April 20-30, 2026. The campaign encourages drivers to slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions, and buckle up when traveling through work zones. With over 130 active work zones expected across the state this summer, the initiative includes public service announcements and events to raise awareness about work zone safety, honoring the 74 ODOT and OTA employees who have died in the line of duty.
What changed
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority announced a statewide work zone safety awareness campaign called 'Safe Actions Save Lives' running from April 20-30, 2026. The campaign aligns with the national Work Zone Awareness Week and includes public service announcements, community events such as Go Orange for Work Zone Safety Day on April 22, and a moment of silence on April 30 to honor fallen workers. The initiative promotes simple safety steps: slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions, and buckle up in work zones.
Compliance officers at transportation agencies should note this is an awareness initiative rather than a regulatory mandate. The campaign targets all motorists traveling through Oklahoma work zones and does not impose new compliance requirements on employers or regulated entities. Transportation companies and fleet operators may consider incorporating the campaign's safety messaging into their own driver communications as part of existing safety programs.
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Safe Actions Save Lives: Statewide campaign promotes work zone safety
Tweet PRINT Email Wednesday, April 08, 2026 Spring has arrived in Oklahoma, bringing not only warmer weather and longer days, but an increase in highway construction and maintenance projects across the state. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority are launching a statewide campaign focused on a simple but critical message: Safe Actions Save Lives.
The initiative encourages drivers to take simple safety steps during the state’s busiest construction season and shares simple solutions to make Oklahoma safe: slow down, stay alert, avoid distractions and buckle up when traveling through work zones. The week-long campaign mirrors the nationwide initiative and begins April 20 with a kick-off at the Safe Oklahoma Summit and continues through April 30 with events designed to raise awareness and encourage safer driving habits.
Transportation Secretary and ODOT Director Tim Gatz at the April Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting April 6 and OTA Chief Engineer Trent January at the OTA Board meeting April 7 each kicked off the campaign by reading a proclamation from Gov. Kevin Stitt declaring April 20–24 as Oklahoma Work Zone Awareness Week.
As part of the campaign, ODOT and OTA will unveil a short series of new public service announcements highlighting “A Day in the Life” of workers behind the orange cones and the importance of protecting workers and drivers in work zones. With more than 130 active work zones expected across the state this summer, transportation officials are urging motorists to share responsibility for keeping roads safe.
“Work zones are essential to maintaining and improving Oklahoma’s transportation system, but they also require extra caution from drivers,” said ODOT Chief Engineer TJ Dill. “By putting away distractions, slowing down and staying focused behind the wheel, every driver can help protect the men and women working on our roads and ensure everyone makes it home safely.”
Seventy-four ODOT and OTA employees have lost their lives in the line of duty and hundreds of crashes occur in work zones each year, many caused by inattentive driving, speeding through construction areas and following too closely.
“As the ACCESS Oklahoma long-range plan continues to expand, drivers will see more work zones along the state’s turnpikes this summer,” said OTA Chief Engineer Trent January. “Work zone safety depends on everyone. Choosing to slow down, put the phone away and follow posted signs can prevent serious crashes and save lives.”
ODOT and OTA will host and support several events throughout April to raise awareness about work zone safety:
April 1: Gov. Stitt proclaims April 20–24 as Oklahoma Work Zone Awareness Week.
April 6: A work zone safety public service announcement was presented at the Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting. Commissioners and ODOT leadership wore orange in recognition of Oklahoma’s road workers.
April 7: The new work zone safety campaign is presented at the OTA Board meeting; leadership wore orange in recognition of Oklahoma’s road workers.
April 22: Go Orange for Work Zone Safety Day - Oklahomans are encouraged to wear orange to show support for highway workers and promote work zone safety. Participants can share photos on social media tagging @OKDOT and @OKTurnpike or email their photos to SCinbox@odot.org for a chance to be featured on statewide social media channels.
April 22: Glow Orange - Landmarks across Oklahoma will glow orange in support of work zone safety, including the Devon Tower and Skydance Bridge in Oklahoma City, the ONEOK Boathouse and Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge in Tulsa, First Oklahoma Bank in Jenks and the City of Moore 34th St. Bridge.
April 30: A moment of silence will be observed to honor fallen ODOT and OTA workers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Bart Tschacher, ODOT District 3 safety manager and campaign spokesperson
ODOT and OTA encourage all Oklahomans to support work zone safety this April by making responsible choices behind the wheel.
Access additional campaign photos on the ODOT Flickr page.
Last Modified on Apr 08, 2026
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