5/23/2005
Work zone safety facts
WORK ZONE SAFETY
The Facts
IN IDAHO
- Work zone collisions in 2004: 265
- In 2003: 357
- Number of people killed in work zones in 2004: 8
- In
2003: 2
- Workers injured in work zone collisions in 2004: 1 worker was seriously injured
- In 2003: 0
- The most common type of collision:
rear-enders
(Following too closely, inattentive driving, failing to yield the right of way, and improper lane changes also contribute to collisions in work zones.)
- Serious injuries related to work zone crashes in 2004: 23
- In
2003: 21
The economic cost of work zone collisions in 2004 was $35 million (compared to $16.4 million in 2003). This cost includes medical treatment, emergency services, property damage, workplace costs and household productivity.Source: Idaho Office of Traffic & Highway Safety
NATIONWIDE
- Eighty-five percent of those killed in a work zone are drivers or occupants.
- Approximately half of all fatal work zone crashes occurred during the day. More than two times as many fatal work zone crashes occurred on weekdays as on weekends.
- Fatal work zone crashes occurred most often in the summer and the fall.
- A total of 1,028 people were killed in work zone crashes during 2003 (the most recent year for which figures are available). With more than a 48 percent increase in work zone fatalities between 1997 and 2003, work zone safety is a growing roadway safety concern.
- More than 41,000 people were injured in 2003 as a result of motor vehicle crashes in work zones, up from 26,000 in 1996, an increase of 14 percent.