Work Zone Safety

Work zones can present unfamiliar and potentially dangerous situations for many drivers, regardless of experience. Drivers play a vital role in improving work zone safety and moving Mississippi toward zero deaths on highways. In 2018, 10 people died in work zone crashes.

• Every 14 minutes, there is an injury in a work zone.
• During the past 5 years, work zone crashes have caused more than:
  • 4,400 persons died (85 percent of which was the driver or passenger)
  • 200,000 persons were injured
• Drivers are the most frequent fatality in work zone crashes
• Most work zone fatalities involve working-age adults
• Rear-end crashes (running into the rear of a slowing or stopping vehicle) are the most common type of work zone crash.
• Fatal work zone crashes occur most often in summer and fall.
• The majority of fatal work zone crashes occurred on roads with speed limits greater than 50 mph.
• Stopping distance for motor vehicles at 50 mph:
  • Dry roadway~300 ft
  • Wet roadway~400 ft
  • Icy pavement~1,250 ft
• A loaded 80,000 lb. tractor-trailer requires almost 50% more stopping distance.
• It takes only an extra 25 seconds to cover 1 mile at 45 mph compared to 65 mph.
• Areas where traffic is entering or leaving work zones are often more dangerous because drivers may be changing lanes and merging.