April 20, 2026 - Oregon work zone crashes hit a five-year high in 2024 — 621 crashes — according to the latest data from the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The crashes claimed 14 lives and resulted in 36 serious injuries.
Most work zone crashes involve drivers, not road workers. In 2024, all of the serious injuries and deaths in work zones were to drivers or their passengers. Each crash was preventable.
Safe driver actions save lives
April 20-24 is
National Work Zone Awareness Week. It encourages safe driving through work zones and highlights the workers who risk their lives to keep our roads safe, clear and flowing smoothly.
Work zones are a shared space between drivers and road workers. Your decisions behind the wheel matter.
- Pay attention. Distracted driving is a leading cause of work zone crashes.
- Slow down. Speed limits in work zones are lowered for everyone’s safety.
- Move over. When you see road workers, safely change lanes to give them space. If you can’t move over, slow down.
- Plan ahead. Navigating work zones will add time to your trip. Before you leave, visit
TripCheck.com for the latest closures, detours and delays.
Read the
complete bulletin that was published on 04-20-2026 for more information and a five-year work zone crash data table.
Spring 2026 Work Zone Safety Billboard Design Contest winners announced
Congratulations to Ethan Kelty and Rona Lowe Steelman from Grant High School in Portland for creating the two winning designs for the spring Work Zone Safety Billboard Contest. See the YouTube short about the winners.
The contest is open to Oregon high school students, featuring separate fall and spring submission periods. The winning submissions are then featured on billboards across the state throughout the year to remind drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones.
Locations of the spring 2026 billboards:
Portland (NE) I-205 north of Columbia Blvd. “If It’s Orange…” (Steelman)
Portland (Clackamas) Highway 224 north of SE Harrison Street “Focus on Your Speed, not your feed.” (Kelty)
Salem I-5 south of Chemawa Road “If It’s Orange…” (Steelman)
Eugene (Cottage Grove) I-5 south of Exit 174 “Focus on Your Speed, not your feed.” (Kelty)
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