FDOT Highlights Innovative Measures to Enhance Work Zone Safety During Work Zone Awareness Week

For Immediate Release
April 20, 2026

CONTACT FDOT: FDOT COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE (850) 414-4590 | [email protected] ****

FDOT Highlights Innovative Measures to Enhance Work Zone Safety During Work Zone Awareness Week

TALLAHASSEE,
Fla. — **** This week, the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) recognizes National Work Zone Awareness
Week, an annual initiative to underscore the importance
of protecting road workers and motorists in active construction
zones. Through continued focus on enhancing safety across Florida's
transportation system through innovation, engineering countermeasures, and
educational outreach, FDOT is taking action to make work zones
safer while reminding motorists of the role that they play in work zone
safety.

“Our roadside crews
work around the clock to deliver projects and maintain Florida’s transportation
infrastructure,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W.
Perdue, P.E. “Let’s keep them safe in work zones. Please remember to slow down,
move over, and stay alert and free of distractions.”

FDOT has made
significant strides in its work zone safety efforts. The Department is
proud to showcase the measurable impact of the Safety
Work Zone Innovation for Today and Tomorrow (SWIFTT) Challenge, a
competition launched in 2024, that brings together private
stakeholders, industry experts, and government agencies to develop creative
solutions to work zone safety challenges. FDOT quickly deployed winning
technologies on interstate resurfacing projects beginning in January
2025. These innovative systems combine LiDAR technology, radar, cameras,
wearable smart watches, and wearable alert speakers to provide roadside workers
with advanced warnings to seek safety prior to a potential collision. Building
on this success, the second SWIFTT Challenge held in December 2025 selected
another breakthrough innovation, a truck-mounted robotic pavement marking
system that allows workers to spray lines and markings without the
use of stencils and use geolocation technology to provide coordinates
for the new markings, simplifying navigation and prioritizing worker
safety and efficiency by reducing the need for crews to work directly
in live traffic.

Additionally, **** FDOT
continues to expand the use of Smart Work Zones statewide as part of its
effort to integrate these technologies across the Department's
construction projects. First introduced in January 2024, Smart Work
Zones leverage portable, real-time technology
to monitor traffic conditions and communicate important safety
information to both drivers and workers. Sensors placed around the work zone
collect and analyze traffic data, enabling timely adjustments to
traffic patterns that play an essential role in minimizing the risk of crashes
and reducing congestion. Variable message signs provide drivers
with up-to-date information on lane closures, speed adjustments, and alternate
routes, helping them navigate through or around work zones as safely as
possible.

Safer work
zones may begin with engineering measures like these,
but driver behavior remains an important factor in helping
to keep work zones fatality-free. This
year's campaign theme, “ Safe Actions Save Lives,” is a
reminder that safe behaviors behind the wheel help both construction
crews and motorists get home safely.

Nationwide,
four out of every five people killed in work zones are drivers or passengers —
making safe driving in construction areas essential not just for workers, but
for everyone on the road.

Motorists can
help make work zones safer by:

·        
Driving
alert and staying focused.

·        
Adhering
to posted work zone speed limits.

·        
Avoiding
distractions.

·        
Watching
for shifts in traffic patterns.

·        
Maintaining
a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

For more Work Zone Awareness Week
information, safety tips, and resources, please visit FDOT.gov/WorkZone.

www.fdot.gov | X: @MyFDOT | Facebook: @MyFDOT

The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state’s economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida’s environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state’s communities.