The ODOT Fall Work Zone Safety Billboard Contest is Underway!
The Oregon Department of Transportation along with community partners is recruiting high school students to design a billboard to educate drivers – especially young drivers - about the dangers of work zones and encourage safe driving. Imagine seeing your design on a giant billboard and realizing the impact it could have on people’s lives.
Every year, tens of thousands of people are injured or killed in roadway work zone crashes in the United States. Distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and speeding cause the most serious injuries and deadly crashes. Workers are especially vulnerable since they are often unprotected (e.g., not in a vehicle) and paying attention to their work.
We want everyone to get home safely, and that requires drivers to slow down, drive sober and pay attention when approaching a work zone. Lives - especially the lives of workers - depend on it. Safety is our number one priority!
We want to harness your creativity and intellect to encourage drivers to be safe when approaching and driving through work zones.
Work Zone Safety:
The near misses you don't hear about
YouTube video
Every day, hundreds of Oregonians put their lives on the line to maintain, repair, and protect our roads. Work zones are more than just construction sites - they include incident responders, state troopers, tow truck drivers, maintenance crews, flaggers, and cleanup teams working mere feet from fast-moving traffic.
Their safety is in your hands. A moment of distraction or speeding through a work zone can cost lives. Slow down. Stay alert. Drive like someone’s life depends on it -because it does.
What Does a Work Zone Look Like?
Work zones are not always large construction projects. They come in different forms, and you might not even realize you're driving through one.
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Construction Zones – Paving crews, bridge repairs, lane expansions
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Traffic Incidents – Emergency responders assisting stranded drivers
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Maintenance Work – Tree trimming, pothole repairs, sign replacements
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Towing Operations – Tow truck drivers helping disabled vehicles
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Traffic Control – Flaggers keeping work zones safe
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Cleanup Crews – Removing debris, roadside litter, and hazards
Oregon law requires drivers to move over or slow down for all roadside workers - including emergency responders, tow truck drivers, and maintenance crews.
Why Respecting Work Zones Matters
- Work zone crashes are preventable. Speeding, distractions, and impatience put lives at risk.
- Workers have little protection. A traffic cone or a sign will not stop a car.
- Fines double in work zones. Oregon law imposes increased penalties for traffic violations in work zones.
See Work Zone Safety in Action