# WORK ZONE SAFETY Talking Points: FLORIDA**

**The Importance of Work Zone Safety in Florida**

· Florida invested $12 billion in 2022 toward infrastructure, exposing travelers and residents to work zones on both urban roadways and interstate highways[footnoteRef:1]. Florida also ranks eighth in the country for fatal crashes involving commercial motor vehicles[footnoteRef:2] in the state’s active work zones.  [1:  The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)]  [2:  The Federal Highway Administration State Ranking for Fatal Crashes Involving CMVs in Work Zones] 

· Florida is a highly transient state, a seaport center, and is known for its robust logistics infrastructure. It is also a world-renowned tourist destination, with 13 million visitors in 2022 alone[footnoteRef:3]. With the state’s continued expansion and year-round construction season, more passenger vehicles and CMV drivers traveling through Florida’s nearly 275K miles of roadways[footnoteRef:4] will likely encounter active work zones at any time, any day of the week.  [3:  Visit Florida 2022 Annual Visitor Data]  [4:  The Federal Highway Administration] 

· A work zone involves workers, vehicles, trucks, and equipment that can necessitate lane closures, detours, and moving equipment, and can last from a few days to several years. In 2020, ten pedestrians and two construction workers were killed in work zones. It’s everyone’s job to drive safely through work zones[footnoteRef:5]. [5:  The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse (Florida)] 

**Sharing the Road**

· Work zones present challenges for truck drivers across Florida – narrowed lanes, sudden stops, traffic pattern shifts, and uneven road surfaces can lead to crashes and fatalities if they are not prepared and alert. Plan your route, stay alert, and do your part while traveling through Florida work zones.

· On average, large trucks are overrepresented in work zone crashes. In 2019, over 33% of fatal crashes involved commercial motor vehicles (CMV) [footnoteRef:6].   [6:  FARS 2019 Annual Report File, NHTSA ] 

· Large blind spots, long stopping distances, and size constraints make maneuvering large trucks and buses in work zones particularly challenging. Passenger vehicle drivers should be mindful that CMV drivers need to take extra precautions when driving through these areas.

· Pay close attention to road workers and flaggers – give them extra room, always slow when approaching them and be prepared to stop if necessary.

**How to Drive Safely Through Work Zones**

· There are plenty of resources available to research your routes and check for upcoming work zones. Make sure you know of any road work before embarking on your route and when possible, use detours to avoid having to pass through these areas.

· Reduce speed and obey signs and signals while traveling through Florida work zones.   

· Be aware of passenger vehicle drivers around you, who may not be aware of commercial vehicle driving challenges, including large blind spots, and longer stopping distances.

· When approaching lane closures, move into the open lane as soon as possible – pay close attention to vehicles around you that could be in your blind spot. 

· Rear-end crashes are common in work zones – obey all speeds, avoid distractions, and maintain extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you at all times.

**Florida’s Active Work Zones**

· 47% of fatal work zone crashes involving CMVs occurred on an interstate highway in Florida[footnoteRef:7]. As you travel through Florida, it’s critical for all drivers – both CMV and passenger vehicle drivers – to share the road safely, particularly as they approach or enter work zones. [7:  FARS, NHTSA] 

· There are active work zones that may impact your driving in Tampa, Orlando, and down through Palm Beach/Broward County and into Miami, including[footnoteRef:8]: [8:  The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Major Projects] 

· I-75 and US 301 Interchange

· US 41 from Winkler Ave. to SR 82

· I-295 North Interchange (specifically on I-95)

· I-295 and US 17

· SR 390, Bay County

· US 98, Santa Rosa County

· I-4 and Daryl Carter Parkway Interchange

· U.S. 441 from Lake Ella Road to Avenida Central

· Florida’s Turnpike MP 27 – 39, Miami-Dade County

· Florida’s Turnpike MP 272-289, Osceola/Lake Counties

· I-275 north of I-4 to north Hillsborough Avenue, Hillsborough County

· I-75 Interchange at CR 672 (Big Bend Road), Hillsborough County

· I-75 Interchange from SR 574 (MLK) to I-4, Hillsborough County

· 68% of fatal work zone crashes involving CMVs occurred on urban Florida roadways[footnoteRef:9] – be aware of work zones on I-95 in the congested metro areas from Palm Beach/Broward County into Miami, including: [9:  FARS, NHTSA] 

· I-95 from south of Glades Road to south of Broward Boulevard in Broward County

· Gateway Boulevard from west of High Ridge Road to east of Seacrest Boulevard, and about 1 mile on SR-9/I-95 from south of the interchange to north of the interchange in Palm Beach.

**Where to get more information**

· The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides work zone safety shareable materials and safety tips on the *Our Roads, Our Safety®* website. 

· FLDOT also offers state-specific resources as part of their *It’s Everyone’s Job* work zone safety awareness campaign page.

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