Georgia DOT Joins National Work Zone Awareness Week 2026

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| For Immediate Release:
Monday, April 20, 2026 |

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| Safe Actions Save Lives - Georgia DOT joins National Work Zone Awareness Week campaign to improve work zone safety for everyone

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is joining the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and many other state DOTs and safety organizations across the country in observing National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). The annual spring campaign held this year beginning on April 20 and wrapping up on April 24, 2026, aims to  raise public awareness of the potential work zone hazards and the importance of practicing safe actions to save lives within work zones not just on Georgia roadways, but roadways across the country.

"I urge all motorists to prioritize safety on our roadways and in particular traveling through active or inactive work zones along our roadways here in Georgia not only during Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, but every day of the year,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R, McMurry, P.E. “It is important to ensure motorist safety, and the safety of our crews and those working day in and day out on behalf of the department’s many roadway projects. Let’s all do our part performing safe actions that save lives on our roadways in Georgia."

The campaign, first presented to ATSSA by Virginia DOT in 1998 officially kicked off as NWZAW in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The first nationwide event was held in 2000 in Springfield, Virginia. The tradition for selecting an annual theme began in 2004, and this year’s theme is “ Safe Actions Save Lives.” This year's national campaign highlights the critical need for drivers to practice safe actions to save lives in and around work zones. Additional attention and caution in work zones for the safety of construction and maintenance crews, first responders, Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO), Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program (CHAMP) operators and tow truck drivers is imperative.

Since 1973, when record-keeping began, more than 60 Georgia DOT employees and contractors have died in work-zone-related incidents.

In 2025, there were:
- 12,964 work-zone related crashes in Georgia resulting in 4,882 injuries and 36 fatalities
- 48 percent of those work zone crashes were roadway departure and rear-end crashes
- 1 fatality involved commercial motor vehicles
- 8 were pedestrian fatalities
Georgia DOT offers these TIPS FOR APPROACHING AND DRIVING IN WORK ZONES:
- Safe Actions Save Lives. Obey the rules of work zones and be aware of construction vehicles entering or exiting the roadway.
- Pay attention
- Slow down (even in lighter than normal traffic.)
- Watch for workers and, when possible, move over to the next lane to create a buffer between the work zone and your vehicle. If you can’t move over, slow down under the speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
- Drive Carefully. Work zones can be unpredictable. Lanes may shift, space is tighter, and crews are often just a few feet away from moving traffic.
- Slow Down. Don ’t Tailgate. Speed is a factor in many accidents. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you, and the construction crews and their equipment.
- Obey Road Crew Signage and pay attention to signs. Failure to obey speed limit signs or a flagger’s traffic control directions can result in hefty fines and/or imprisonment.
- Stay Alert and Minimize Distractions. Pay full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or using cell phones and other electronic devices.
Click here for additional resources focused on work zone safety including images, FAQs, and a fact sheet.

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We’re involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department’s vision is to boost Georgia’s competitiveness through leadership in transportation.

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