III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 613 

Supporting the designation of the week of April 15 through April 19, 2024, 

as ‘‘National Work Zone Awareness Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 21, 2024 

Mr. BRAUN (for himself and Mr. BLUMENTHAL) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of the week of April 15 through 

April 19, 2024, as ‘‘National Work Zone Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas 956 work zone fatalities occurred in 2021, according 

to the Federal Highway Administration (referred to in 

this preamble as ‘‘FHWA’’) and the National Highway 

Traffic Safety Administration (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘NHTSA’’), under the Department of Transportation (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘DOT’’); 

Whereas, of the 956 work zone fatalities that occurred in 

2021— 

(1) 778 fatalities were motor vehicle drivers or passengers; 

(2) 173 fatalities were persons on foot or bicyclists; 

and 


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•SRES 613 ATS 

(3) 5 fatalities were listed as occupants of a motor 

vehicle not in transport, unknown occupant type in a 

motor vehicle in transport, or device and person on personal conveyances; 

Whereas, according to DOT data from 2021 on work zone 

fatal traffic crashes by type— 

(1) 206 crashes involved a rear-end collision; 

(2) 291 involved a commercial motor vehicle; and 

(3) 278 fatalities occurred where speeding was a factor; 

Whereas 164 pedestrian fatalities occurred in work zones in 

2021, according to DOT data; 

Whereas, of the 164 pedestrian fatalities that occurred in 

work zones in 2021— 

(1) 34 fatalities were a construction, maintenance, 

utility, or transportation worker; and 

(2) 130 fatalities were pedestrians other than a construction, maintenance, utility, or transportation worker; 

Whereas the DOT reported that 42,151 people were injured 

due to work zone crashes in 2021; 

Whereas, according to DOT data from 2021, a total of 108 

worker occupational fatalities in road construction sites 

occurred; 

Whereas the DOT reported that between 2020 and 2021, 

work zone fatalities increased by 10.8 percent while overall roadway fatalities increased by 10.3 percent; 

Whereas, according to FHWA and NHTSA, while work zones 

play a critical role in maintaining and upgrading our 

roads, work zones can also be a major cause of congestion, delay, and traveler dissatisfaction; 


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Whereas, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucks and buses have limited maneuverability and large blind spots that make operating in work 

zone areas more challenging, leading to a disproportionate number of work zone crashes involving trucks and 

buses; 

Whereas enforcement of work zone speed limits is shown to 

significantly reduce speeding, aggressive driving, fatalities, and injuries; 

Whereas work zone crashes and fatalities deeply impact family, friends, and communities; 

Whereas being under the influence of intoxicating substances 

while being behind the wheel of a motor vehicle increases 

the likelihood of intrusions into work zones; and 

Whereas work zone fatalities are at the highest level since 

2006: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of the week of 

3 April 15 through April 19, 2024, as ‘‘National Work 

4 Zone Awareness Week’’; 

5 (2) encourages individuals to educate them6 selves on the value of training and the importance 

7 of best practices with respect to work zone safety; 

8 (3) encourages individuals to practice work zone 

9 safety by— 

10 (A) researching their routes ahead of time 

11 to avoid work zones when possible; 

12 (B) avoiding distractions while driving; 


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1 (C) obeying road crew flaggers and being 

2 aware of and obeying all signs throughout work 

3 zones that indicate reduced speeds, lane 

4 changes, and other vital information; 

5 (D) slowing down when entering a work 

6 zone and being aware of road workers; 

7 (E) merging into an open lane when in8 structed to do so when lane closures are present 

9 and slowing down and merging over for first re10 sponders; 

11 (F) maintaining a space cushion when 

12 driving behind other vehicles to avoid rear-end 

13 crashes; and 

14 (G) providing towing and recovery profes15 sionals room to facilitate the process of clearing 

16 crashes; 

17 (4) encourages infrastructure owners and oper18 ators to deploy work zone protections and tech19 nologies such as the Work Zone Data Exchange to 

20 make travel on public roads safer for workers and 

21 road users; and 

22 (5) supports the goals and ideals of a ‘‘National 

23 Work Zone Awareness Week’’ to bring further 


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1 awareness to worker and driver safety while maneu2 vering a motor vehicle in work zones. 

Æ 


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