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 | Jun 21, 2019
Architecture billings remain flat
AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for May showed a small increase in design services at 50.2.
Market Data | Jun 19, 2019
Number of U.S. architects continues to rise
New data from NCARB reveals that the number of architects continues to increase.
Market Data | Jun 12, 2019
Construction input prices see slight increase in May
Among the 11 subcategories, six saw prices fall last month, with the largest decreases in natural gas.
Market Data | Jun 3, 2019
Nonresidential construction spending up 6.4% year over year in April
Among the 16 sectors tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau, nine experienced an increase in monthly spending, led by water supply and highway and street.
Market Data | Jun 3, 2019
4.1% annual growth in office asking rents above five-year compound annual growth rate
Market has experienced no change in office vacancy rates in three quarters.
Market Data | May 30, 2019
Construction employment increases in 250 out of 358 metros from April 2018 to April 2019
Demand for work is outpacing the supply of workers.
Market Data | May 24, 2019
Construction contractors confidence remains high in March
More than 70% of contractors expect to increase staffing levels over the next six months.
Market Data | May 22, 2019
Slight rebound for architecture billings in April
AIA’s ABI score for April showed a small increase in design services at 50.5 in April.
Market Data | May 9, 2019
The U.S. hotel construction pipeline continues to grow in the first quarter as the economy shows surprising strength
Projects currently under construction stand at 1,709 projects/227,924 rooms.
Market Data | May 9, 2019
Construction input prices continue to rise
Nonresidential input prices rose 0.9% compared to March and are up 2.8% on an annual basis.