The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is joining states across the nation to ask motorists to “Work with Us” and move over and slow down for highway workers. TDOT will spread that message statewide during National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 15-19, 2024) to improve safety in Tennessee’s interstate and highway construction and maintenance work zones. This year’s theme is Work zones are temporary, your actions behind the wheel can last forever.

“We engineer our roads to be as safe as possible,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “But there’s no amount of engineering that can change driver behavior. 113 TDOT workers have been killed while working on our roads. This is very personal for me. Everyone must slow down, move over, and pay attention every time they’re behind the wheel, especially in work zones.”

So far this year, there have been 29 incidents where drivers crashed into TDOT equipment and vehicles. The spring and summer months provide perfect weather for highway work. Work zones include everything from major interstate widening projects to repaving and Litter pickup. Motorists will encounter work zones across the state.

Last year in Tennessee, 22 people died in work zone crashes.

In 2023, there were 2,832 total crashes, 634 with injuries in work zones on Tennessee roads.

This Wednesday, April 17, 2024, is “Wear Orange Day”. Please show your support for National Work Zone Awareness by wearing orange.