Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Photo collage: temporary lane closure, road marking installation, cone with mounted warning light, and drum separated work zones.
Office of Operations 21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Program-Level Public Information and Outreach Examples

Public Information and Outreach Strategies

Program-level public information and outreach is important to drawing attention to the safety and mobility issues in work zones and encouraging drivers to be vigilant while driving through work zones. While several States have their own work zone outreach programs, there are also various programs available at the national level.

Work Zone Safety Program/National Work Zone Awareness Week Video

A short Work Zone Safety Program/National Work Zone Awareness Week Video has been developed on work zone safety issues. The Federal Highway Administration works with several partners nationwide to reduce work zone fatalities and injuries.

National Work Zone Awareness Week

Held annually, National Work Zone Awareness Week is designed to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones.

National Work Zone Safety Public Service Campaign

FHWA developed a national work zone safety public service campaign using a mascot known as "Jack Hammer" and the phrase, "Get the picture. Listen to the signs." The campaign, which was rolled out to all 50 states in 1998, is comprised of materials including a media kit, a fact sheet, a brochure, posters, bumper stickers, and television and radio ads.

Work Zone Safety Community Programs and Resources

  • The FHWA Office of Safety provides links to various resources from State DOTs and others that have tips and information for drivers, truckers, and pedestrians about moving safely through work zones.
  • Work Zone Safety Brochures - produced by the FHWA Office of Safety
    • Work Zone Safety for Drivers (HTML, PDF 304KB)
    • Trucking Safely Through Work Zones (HTML, PDF 160KB)

Arizona Example

The Arizona Friends and Families of Roadway Workers and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety developed a 30 second PSA for National Work Zone Awareness Week featuring Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. In this video, Secretary Peters encourages drivers to slow down while driving through construction zones.

Delaware DOT Example

In March 2008 the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) embarked on its most significant Work Zone Safety Awareness Campaign, and has employed a variety of marketing techniques to promote work zone safety. These techniques include radio ads, billboards on roadways, and buses decorated with work zone safety messages. DelDOT is using the theme of "Hey! We're working here!" for the campaign. The campaign is part of a three-part year-long educational campaign that will also focus on pedestrian and neighborhood safety.

Florida DOT Example

The Florida Department of Transportation developed a public service announcement for National Work Zone Awareness Week 2008, letting people know that "Work Zone Safety - It's Everyone's Job." This PSA was aired for 90 days statewide starting in April 2008 through an agreement with the Florida Association of Broadcasters.

Iowa DOT Example

On July 1, 2008 Iowa's fines for speeding in a work zone significantly increased. Speeding up to 10 mph over the legal limit will now be $150, 20 mph - $300, 25 mph - $500, and over 25 will be $1,000. The effort to increase work zone speeding penalties was led by an Iowa Department of Transportation maintenance worker who was struck by a vehicle while performing flagging operations. Iowa has created a public outreach campaign to notify drivers about the new fines. This campaign includes a web site about the new fines that provides background information about the activities leading up to implementation of the fines, a fact sheet, news releases, and new highway signs.

Maine DOT Example

The Maine Department of Transportation started the Backseat Driver Program in 2000 to spread the word to fourth grade students about work zone safety, with the hope that they will take this message back to their parents. After registering on the Backseat Driver web site, teachers can download classroom curricula to teach their students about driver safety in work zones. Each year, as part of this program, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) sponsors a work zone safety poster contest. Seven regional winners are chosen and awarded $200, and a $1000 award is given to the class of the grand prize winner, chosen by the public, to be used for a field trip or other classroom needs. The posters are also used in a work zone safety calendar.

Michigan DOT Example

The Michigan DOT (MDOT) has developed a work zone safety video that is designed to improve motorist awareness in work zones. The one minute and twenty second video is available online and is also being shown in various Michigan Welcome Centers across the state.

North Carolina DOT Example

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) created it's Work Zone Safety Program in 1989 to promote safety and reduce fatalities in work zones. This program develops and disseminates promotional materials about work zone safety; develops public service announcements and videos; and provides materials to help educators teach about work zone safety. The program has its own mascots, Buddy Barrel and Connie Cone. These mascots appear in promotional materials and are available for events. NCDOT developed a manual that provides tips and ideas on how to best use the mascots to generate exposure at events. Program initiatives include Operation Drive Smart, an effort to reduce the number of collisions in North Carolina's work zones; a video and other materials aimed at truck drivers, developed in partnership with Carolinas Associated General Contractors and the North Carolina Trucking Association; and a work zone safety poster contest for children.

Ohio DOT Example

The Ohio DOT (ODOT) used an innovative approach to draw attention to work zone safety during the 2008 National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). ODOT buildings across Ohio, including ODOT Headquarters located along I-70 and rest areas on I-75, were illuminated with an orange glow at night during the week as a reminder to drivers to use extra care when driving through work zones. ODOT also placed changeable message signs displaying the 2008 NWZAW slogan, "Slow for the Cone Zone," at rest areas. A press release from ODOT further describes the orange lighting effort.

Oregon DOT Example

The Oregon DOT (ODOT) is promoting work zone safety on a giant 48-foot by 18-foot curtain draped over ODOT's fleet trailer. In big, bold letters the bright orange curtain says, "Slow Down. Better Roads Ahead." ODOT has been promoting that slogan for the past year in a statewide campaign. The fleet trailer runs up and down the I-5 and I-84 corridors and all parts east, west, north and south. The curtained trailer will also be available for safety fairs and other special events.

Virginia DOT Example

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has a work zone safety web site that includes information on how VDOT observes National Work Zone Awareness Week; audio, video, and transcripts for several public service announcements; work zone statistics; and informational materials for kids and teens, including a teacher’s guide that contains resources, information and activities for work zone awareness. As indicated on the web site, VDOT puts strong emphasis on work zone outreach to teenage drivers, having reached out to more than 97,000 teens since the statewide outreach began in 2003.

Waco, Texas Example

The Municipal Information Department in the City of Waco produced a 30 second work zone safety public service announcement aimed at getting motorists to slow down in work zones in response to requests by numerous construction contractors, utility companies, and city workers.

Wisconsin DOT Example

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has developed a number of audio and video clips as part of a safety campaign for the 2008 summer construction season. The video clips are being broadcast on television and feature stories of workers who have survived near-fatal incidents, as well as a powerful ad that portrays a driver getting out of his car in shock to find that he has hit a construction worker. DOT officials hope the safety campaign can help protect workers and get drivers' attention and remind them to slow down in work zones.

Additional Program-Level Public Information and Outreach Resources


To view PDF files, you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

To view PPT files, you need the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer.

To view WMV files, you will need the Windows Media Player.
Office of Operations