Every day, millions of motorists share the road with dedicated
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) crews who are
working to make the state’s highways safer, cleaner, and more
efficient.
Every day, millions of motorists share the road with dedicated California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) crews who are working to make the state’s highways safer, cleaner, and more efficient. But too often, this combination of diligent work crews and distracted drivers results in a tragic collision. With this in mind, the Caltrans Slow for the Cone Zone public awareness campaign has shown remarkable progress in preventing crashes and saving lives.
“We feel it’s important for people to understand that their lives are just as much at risk as those of our workers when it comes to work-zone crashes,” said Dennis Trujillo, deputy director for the California Department of Transportation. “Since the introduction of the Slow for the Cone Zone campaign, the number of collisions in construction zones on California state highways has decreased for three consecutive years.”
The statewide launch of the Slow for the Cone Zone campaign coincides with a dramatic increase in the number of work zones on California roadways, thanks to the largest transportation improvement project in state history.
With more workers, more vehicles, and more drivers on the road than ever before, Caltrans determined motorists must be made aware of the risks of inattentive or reckless driving in highway construction and repair work zones. Furthermore, studies found most people were unaware that motorists make up the vast majority of all fatalities in work-zone crashes.
Additional research showed drivers are more likely to drive cautiously in work zones if they are made aware of the risk to themselves and their passengers.
Initially launched as a pilot program in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area, the Slow for the Cone Zone campaign cautions motorists to be alert and slow down while approaching and driving through highway improvement zones in order to get through them safely and as quickly as possible. The results were dramatic:
Since the public awareness campaign began, the number of crashes in Caltrans work zones has decreased 28 percent.
In the first year, more than four out of five people surveyed in Sacramento and the Bay Area said the campaign made them “drive more slowly” or “drive slower so they don’t hurt someone.”
A comparison of fatality rates between California and the rest of the United States showed as many as 17 more Californians would have lost their lives in work zone crashes if the state had followed the upward trend of the rest of the country.
Following up on this initial success, the Slow for the Cone Zone campaign is now running throughout California. In addition to the safety messages, motorists are encouraged to visit www.dot.ca.gov when planning their road trips to learn about highway improvement zones along their route and to avoid them if possible.
“Most crashes are caused by irresponsible or inattentive drivers speeding through highway improvement project zones, making last-minute lane changes, and not being prepared for sudden stops by traffic ahead,” said Trujillo.
“Motorists can help reduce the number of crashes in work zones by keeping a sharp eye out for drivers who appear to be distracted as they approach these areas and by taking a few simple precautions like turning off the cell phone or turning down the radio.”
In all, 158 Caltrans workers have lost their lives in the line of duty. However, no Caltrans workers have been killed in highway improvement project zones in the past two years. Despite an increase in highway improvement projects in California each year, the number of work-zone collisions has declined. Nationally, nearly 900 people are killed on average and more than 40,000 injured annually in road work-zone crashes.
The Slow for the Cone Zone campaign is one part of Caltrans’ continued focus on worker and motorist safety. Caltrans uses innovative equipment and techniques to protect workers and the public from crashes, as well as to minimize obstructions and delays due to road work. Caltrans also improves mobility across California by continually working to provide better, safer roads.
Joe Streng is the account executive of the California Department of Transportation.
