Work Zone Safety
Traffic safety campaigns
Highway work is dangerous work, often just inches away from speeding traffic. Help keep our workers and everyone on the road safe by slowing down in work zones.
In 2025, there were more than 28,000 traffic crashes in Texas work zones, resulting in 203 people killed, including seven roadside workers. And while workers are at risk doing their jobs to keep us safe, most of the people who died in work zone crashes were drivers or their passengers. Driving with caution through work zones is as much for your protection as it is for the people working.
In recognition of National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 20-24, 2026, TxDOT calls on motorists to be safe and drive smart when passing through the state's active work zones to prevent crashes and fatatlities.
Stay safe in work zones with these Be Safe. Drive Smart. tips
Work zones present a different and sometimes challenging environment for drivers to navigate. Motorists may encounter uneven pavement, narrow lanes, concrete barriers, slow-moving heavy equipment, and vehicles that make sudden stops.
- Slow down. Follow the speed limit and adjust your speed to road conditions. What's safe for normal conditions may not be safe in a work zone.
- Stay alert. Focus on driving, avoid distractions, and put your phone away.
- Never tailgate. Give yourself room to stop in a hurry. Rear-end collisions are the most common kind of work zone crashes.
- Watch out for road crews. Roadside workers want to get home safely too. Always follow their instructions and work zone signs.
- Allow extra time. Road construction can slow things down. Plan ahead so you are not tempted to speed.
Move Over or Slow Down
Motorists are also reminded to follow the state's Move Over or Slow Down law. It requires drivers to move over a lane or reduce their speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when approaching vehicles stopped with flashing lights activated on the roadside or shoulder. That's not just law enforcement cars, but also emergency vehicles, TxDOT vehicles, tow trucks, and utility vehicles.