2026 Work Zone Safety Awareness - Safe Actions Save Lives
National Work Zone Awareness Week kicks off start of construction season every April, and the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, labor and industry partners want to remind the public that “Safe Actions Save Lives.”
In addition, to call attention to the heightened risks of work zones, Gov. JB Pritzker has proclaimed April 20-24 as “Work Zone Safety Awareness Week” in Illinois.
“At the Illinois Tollway, safety is at the core of everything we do, especially as construction season gets underway,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Slowing down, staying alert and avoiding distractions in work zones protects everyone on the road. When we each take responsibility, we help ensure everyone gets home safely.”
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, each year an average of 6,195 crashes occur in work zones across the state, resulting in 1,073 injuries. Preliminary statistics for 2025 show that 35 people – but no workers – died in work zones in Illinois, an increase of 22 from the previous year and a reminder that crashes in work zones generally have a much greater impact on drivers and their passengers.
“At IDOT, we are doing more than ever this year to fix and modernize roads and bridges. Please remember to remain alert for work zones, slow down and give our crews plenty of room to do their jobs,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “The people wearing the vests behind the cones and barricades want to get home at the end of the day, just like you.”
The theme for this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is “Safe Actions Save Lives,” reinforcing the message that staying alert and anticipating changing conditions impact everyone in work zones – not just workers, but drivers and their passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
The following guidelines for traveling through work zones should be followed at all times:
- Buckle up, phone down. A seat belt is your best defense in a crash. Phones and electronic devices should be put down at all times.
- Obey the signs. They will help you safely navigate work zones and avoid delays.
- Slow down. The posted speed limits are there for the safety of workers and you.
- Look out for slowed or stopped traffic.
- Give yourself time to react. Avoid following too closely and maintain at least two seconds of space in front of you.
- Consider the limitations of heavy equipment, trucks and commercial vehicles. Provide them extra distance to come to a complete stop if they are behind you.
- Remember that a work zone can take many forms: A crew patching potholes, fixing signs and guardrail or collecting litter. A major interstate reconstruction. A minor repair on a neighborhood street or a utility company out in the field. If you see orange, slow down and save lives.
“Safety is a shared responsibility when driving through road construction work zones,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Already in the first three months of 2026, ISP alone has handled 640 crashes in work zones, 91 of which resulted in injuries. It’s simple: Slow down and pay attention when driving through work zones to keep road workers, you and other drivers safe.”
This year, IDOT and its partners are strengthening efforts to make work zones safer. A new initiative starting this week is a data feed to connect with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Work Zone Data Exchange, allowing providers such as Google, Apple and Waze to more easily share information on work zone activities with the public via mapping apps. The partnership also will capture short-term maintenance activities happening in the field, such as pavement patching and sign repairs.