SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A road construction zone can be a dangerous place for workers and drivers.
The South Dakota State Department of Transportation said that in 2023 there were 229 crashes on state highway work zones and another 163 crashes on local highways.
According to the SD DOT, the main cause of all road construction work zone crashes is distracted driving.
In the U.S., the main types of work zone fatal crashes are rear-end collisions, collisions involving a commercial motor vehicle and speeding, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation . From 2021 to 2022, crashes involving speed increased from 30% to 34%.
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In 2021, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration advised drivers of large commercial trucks to slow down in work zones, obey the flaggers, pay attention and follow other advice. A National Work Zone Awareness Week urges all drivers to slow down in all road construction zones as well as to pay attention to directions and signs and to not drive distracted.