Drive Safely in Work Zones

A young child wearing a yellow hard hat sits in the driver seat of a piece of heavy machinery. Text over the image reads, "The number of people injured in Washington work zone crashes increased to nearly 600 in 2024. 96% of those injured or killed were drivers and their passengers." Text in an orange banner at the bottom of the graphic reads, "Driving safely through work zones protects workers, you and your passengers. Slow down. Pay attention. Be patient."
Slow down. 
  • Posted speeds are set based on the maximum safe speed for a road when considering factors like intersections, curves, traffic volumes, sight distance, incline, and traffic volume. Driving faster than the posted speed greatly increases your risk of crashing. 
Pay attention. 
  • If you read a text while driving at just 35 mph for even six seconds, you'll travel the length of a football field without your eyes on the road. A lot can happen in six seconds - vehicles pulling out of driveways, traffic stopping suddenly for something in the road, or a child running out into the road after a ball. You may pass a worker doing their job in the roadway, meaning drifting even inches out of your lane could have disastrous consequences. One text isn't worth the risk.
  • Distracted driver-involved fatalities increased in both 2023 and 2024, involving 136 and 138 deaths, respectively.
Be patient. 
  • Check your route before you go. Note that popular mapping apps typically do not display construction zones or detours. Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/construction-traffic-delays for information about road construction in Clark County on state, county and city-managed roadways.
  • Expect delays, leave early, or take an alternate route. Being on time for a meeting or an appointment isn’t worth risking someone’s life.
  • Our workers are out there not to make you late; they’re out there to fix the road issues you’ve reported and to make the drive better for you. Be kind to workers.