WORK-ZONE SAFETY TAKES CENTER STAGE

In 1997, 658 people died in highway work zones, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Experts say the solution to this problem lies in a combination of good planning, smart use of resources and technology, law enforcement, and effective communication. The biggest problems in work zones are attentiveness and speed. A number of government, research, construction, and safety organizations are banding together to improve work-zone safety. Many state departments of transportation are undertaking initiatives to educate the public and garner public support for this issue. A sidebar discusses the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.