flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Construction group uses mobile technology to make highway work zones safer

Market Data

Construction group uses mobile technology to make highway work zones safer

Mobile advertising campaign urges drivers who routinely pass through certain work zones to slow down and be alert as new data shows motorists are more likely to be injured than construction workers.


By AGC of America | May 25, 2018

54% of highway contractors reported that motor vehicles had crashed into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. In response, association officials have launched a new mobile advertising campaign urging drivers who routinely pass through certain work zones to slow down and be alert.

"There are simply too many cars crashing into too many work zones, putting too many lives at risk," said Spokesman Ken Kubacki, Chair AGC's Highway and Transportation Division, Western Region Projects Executive, Granite Construction Co Bakersfield, Cal. and chairman of the association's Highway and Transportation Division. "That is why we are using targeted technology to urge motorists to slow down and drive with care in highway work zones."

Kubacki said that 48% of contractors who reported work zone crashes on their projects said that motor vehicle operators or passengers were injured, and 24% of those crashes involved a driver or passenger fatality. Highway work zone crashes also pose a significant risk for construction workers, Kubacki noted. He said 25% of work zone crashes injure construction workers and 3% of those crashes kill them.

Work zone crashes also have a pronounced impact on construction schedules and costs, Kubacki said. He noted that 53% of contractors responded that their highway projects have been delayed at least a day during the past 12 months because of work zone crashes. He added that 74% of responding contractors report they feel highway work zone crashes pose a greater risk now compared to a decade ago.

Association officials have launched a new targeted mobile advertising campaign designed to reach regular highway work zone drivers and urge them to be careful in roadside construction sites before the start of the traditional summer driving season. As part of the campaign, drivers who regularly pass through highway work zones in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; St. Louis, Missouri; Birmingham, Alabama and Evansville, Indiana were sent mobile advertising with special work zone safety messages

Kubacki noted that the ads show up only when the driver opens his or her mobile phone and either visits a web browser like Chrome or Safari, or uses an app with advertisements. The campaign is crafted that way to avoid distracting drivers while they are on the road, instead reaching them when they can safely use their phones. During the past three weeks, over one and half million motorists have seen the ad, Kubacki noted, while several thousand have clicked on the ads to view more highway work zone safety tips.

"We are using technology to make sure 100% of our ads are reaching work zone motorists," the highway contractor added. "Instead of trying to sell something, we are harnessing mobile advertising technology to save as many lives as possible."  

The work zone safety study was based on a nationwide survey of highway construction firms the association conducted in April and May of this year. Over 550 contractors completed the survey nationwide. View the national, regional and state highway construction zone survey results

Related Stories

Market Data | Oct 5, 2020

7 must reads for the AEC industry today: October 5, 2020

Zaha Hadid unveils 2 Murray Road and the AEC industry is weathering COVID-19 better than most.

Market Data | Oct 2, 2020

AEC industry is weathering COVID-19 better than most

Nearly one-third of firms have had layoffs, more than 90% have experienced project delays.

Market Data | Oct 2, 2020

6 must reads for the AEC industry today: October 2, 2020

BIG imagines how to live on the moon and smart buildings stand on good data.

Market Data | Oct 1, 2020

Two-thirds of metros shed construction jobs from August 2019 to August 2020

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass. have worst 12-month losses, while Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind. and Niles-Benton Harbor, Mich. top job gainers.

Market Data | Oct 1, 2020

6 must reads for the AEC industry today: October 1, 2020

David Adjaye to receive 2021 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture and SOM reimagines the former Cook County Hospital.

Market Data | Sep 30, 2020

6 must reads for the AEC industry today: September 30, 2020

Heatherwick Studio designs The Cove for San Francisco and Washington, D.C.'s first modular apartment building.

Market Data | Sep 29, 2020

6 must reads for the AEC industry today: September 29, 2020

Renovation to Providence's downtown library is completed and Amazon to build 1,500 new last-mile warehouses.

Market Data | Sep 25, 2020

5 must reads for the AEC industry today: September 25, 2020

AIA releases latest 2030 Commitment results and news delivery robots could generate trillions for U.S. economy.

Market Data | Sep 24, 2020

6 must reads for the AEC industry today: September 24, 2020

SOM's new waterfront neighborhood and a portable restroom designed for mobility.

Market Data | Sep 23, 2020

Architectural billings in August still show little sign of improvement

The pace of decline during August remained at about the same level as in July and June.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Healthcare Facilities

Watch on-demand: Key Trends in the Healthcare Facilities Market for 2024-2025

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this on-demand webinar on key trends, innovations, and opportunities in the $65 billion U.S. healthcare buildings market. A panel of healthcare design and construction experts present their latest projects, trends, innovations, opportunities, and data/research on key healthcare facilities sub-sectors. A 2024-2025 U.S. healthcare facilities market outlook is also presented.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021