CAIT hosted the 2024 NJ Work Zone Safety Conference in April.
Spring brings the start of construction season, and with it the important reminder to practice safe driving especially in and around roadway work zones.
From April 15-19, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recognized the 2024 National Work Zone Awareness Week, hosting numerous events and an awareness campaign reminding drivers and pedestrians that work zones are temporary—but actions behind the wheel can last forever.
For 25 years, FHWA has recognized National Work Zone Awareness Week, as work zone safety is a critical component of national efforts like the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and Vision Zero to reduce serious injuries and deaths. Nationally, for the first time in several years, the rate of work zone fatalities decreased from 2021 to 2022, by 7 percent.
Learn more about safety efforts at the federal level here.
Locally, Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) hosted the 2024 NJ Work Zone Safety Conference on April 4 to promote safety and work zone awareness across New Jersey. More than 200 construction, engineering, public safety, maintenance, and operations personnel from across the region attended the conference, which was hosted in collaboration with the New Jersey Work Zone Safety Partnership.
“While work zone safety awareness week is a national springtime outreach campaign, CAIT holds educational events throughout the year to train construction, maintenance, public safety, and engineering personnel how to properly set up and operate in roadway work areas,” said Janet Leli, associate director of technology transfer at CAIT. “Work zones can be a highly dangerous environment for both workers and motorists alike. While the data is trending slightly downward, the U.S. is still experiencing more than 800 work zone fatalities a year.”
See some highlights from the annual conference in the slideshow below.
Welcoming remarks from speakers including New Jersey Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Francis K. O’Connor kicked off the event. Experts in the field discussed best practices for work zone inspections, new safety campaigns promoting accountability in the work zone, struck-by incidences, and the latest research in vehicle lighting, among other topics.
A keynote speech from Eric Ferron, MUTCD Part 6 Team Leader at the FHWA, reviewed recent changes made to the 11th Edition of the MUTCD.
The 2024 New Jersey Work Zone Safety Excellence Awards were also presented, recognizing individuals, companies, and agencies that have contributed to safety in work zones and on roadways across the state. This year’s winners were:
- Kim, Michael, and Shawn Corbett — Michael J. Corbett Work Zone Safety Training & Education Award
- Joseph Perry — Squibb Research Award
- Stephanie A. Baldwin — New Jersey Work Zone Safety Excellence Award
- Robert Zydorski and Angelo Armano — New Jersey Work Zone Safety Excellence Award
- David Szatkowski — New Jersey Work Zone Safety Excellence Award
Learn more about the 2024 NJ Work Zone Safety Conference here.
