CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- This week, the Virginia Department of Transportation launched its annual Work Zone Awareness week, encouraging Virginia drivers to take extra care on the state’s roads around work crews. 

VDOT spokesperson Alexis Breeden said there is a shared respect necessary for safety, not just between motorists in work zones, but also between motorists and the workers doing their jobs.

“They all have families to go home to just like we do,” Breeden said. “Slow down, stay calm, be patient.”

The campaign, which was first ran at the start of construction season in 1997, began this year on Monday and runs through Friday.

VDOT held Work Zone Safety Training throughout the day Monday. Wednesday is Go Orange Day, in which wearing orange is encouraged in support of work zone safety, and there will be a gathering to honor those who lost their lives in work zone-related incidents at the VDOT Workers Memorial on Afton Mountain off I-64.  

Finally, at 10 a.m. Friday, a statewide moment of silence to honor workers who lost their lives in service to Virginia. 

The need for yearly increased safety awareness in navigating work zones is justified by the numbers. Across the state, there were 4,000 work zone crashes, resulting in 2,300 injuries and 17 fatalities in 2025.  All three of those numbers are up from last year, with 3,700 crashes, 1,500 injuries, and 15 fatalities in 2024. 

“It’s critical that drivers safely share the limited space in a work zone,” said Virginia Transportation Secretary Nick Donohue. “…we owe it to those who put their lives at risk to prioritize safety by slowing down, avoiding tailgating, and putting away distractions.” 

Work zone crashes most often result from speeding or driving distracted, 85% in total.  75% of those crashes are rear-end collisions. 

These risks can be alleviated by slowing down in work zones, staying alert at all times, and following all signs, flaggers, and navigation guidance. 

Construction season tends to last from April until October, taking advantage of nicer weather in order to perform road work throughout the day, not just the overnight hours.

“Work zones are a temporary inconvenience,” said Stephen Brich, commissioner of VDOT, “so while it may be tempting to increase your speed or check your phone, our workers and everyone out on the road deserve to get home safely each day.”