Ensuring Work Zone Safety for Commercial Drivers

Trucking employers are responsible for educating their commercial drivers on common road hazards and equipping them with the training and resources necessary to stay safe behind the wheel. Some road hazards are constant, but others may change over time. For instance, road construction is a more prevalent concern during the spring and summer, often requiring drivers to travel through work zones.  

Work Zone Risks

Work zones pose many additional risks for drivers due to construction employees working near moving traffic, dump trucks entering and exiting construction areas, flaggers redirecting traffic and lanes shifting unexpectedly. Failing to uphold proper safety precautions while driving through work zones can lead to serious accidents and associated injuries and fatalities.  

According to the National Safety Council, nearly 900 work zone-related fatalities occur in the United States each year. What’s worse, these fatalities have increased by over 50% in the past decade, with the majority of such incidents stemming from driver error or negligence. 

Work Zone Safety Best Practices

Considering these findings, it’s crucial for trucking employers to ensure their commercial drivers understand and implement best practices for safely navigating work zones, thus keeping themselves and others safe on the road. These practices include: 

• Paying attention—Drivers should keep their eyes on the road at all times. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, making hand-held phone calls while driving is against the law. Although drivers can use hands-free devices to make phone calls, they should never be on the phone while behind the wheel. Drivers should also take note of any traffic and safety signage in work zones and abide by all signage directions. 
• Slowing down—Drivers should automatically slow down when entering and driving through work zones. This is especially important if construction workers are physically present. Slowing down within work zones can also allow drivers more reaction time in the event of an unexpected hazard. Regardless of traffic flow, drivers should always abide by the posted speed limits in work zones. 
• Moving to open lanes—When notified of approaching work zones, drivers should move into open lanes early to safely distance themselves. Drivers should always check their blind spots before changing lanes to prevent accidents. 
• Keeping a safe distance—Both in and out of work zones, drivers should allow adequate distance between themselves and other vehicles to help minimize rear-end accidents. This is a particularly vital practice, as the FMCSA reported that rear-end collisions have increased by 29% in recent years. 
• Driving defensively—Drivers should carefully monitor other motorists’ behaviors behind the wheel. In doing so, they can anticipate safety issues on the road and mitigate them before an accident happens. This is called defensive driving. To uphold defensive driving habits, drivers should always scan about 15 seconds ahead of them for possible road hazards. This provides them with suitable time to react to issues if they arise on the road. Scanning this far ahead is essential in work zones, especially if traffic merges into one lane or comes to a sudden stop. 

Commercial drivers have a difficult job—one that is compounded by the risk of traveling through work zones during road construction season. However, trucking employers who promote the importance of paying attention and prioritizing safety in work zones can make all the difference in preventing accidents. 

Contact Braxton Dailey, Aegis Account Director, for more moving and storage industry updates and risk management guidance. 

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The above information does not constitute advice. Always contact your insurance broker or trusted advisor for insurance-related questions.