Work zones are characterized by any work being done to a road or beside it, including towing or utility work.
Courtesy of the City of Roseburg
In 2024, Oregon saw the highest rate of work zone crashes and fatalities in five years.
Matt Noble, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said all 621 crashes were avoidable, with most being caused by speeding or distracted driving.
And, he said, work zones are more common than people think. They do not only involve work being done to the road itself — they can also include towing or utility work.
“People are going to be seeing more of these different kinds of work zones as the weather warms up and we do more road maintenance and utilities and other kinds of work,” Noble said. “People just need to be aware. They need to pay attention. And if they see a work zone, slow down, move over.”
He said paying attention to work zones on your route keeps drivers, passengers and road workers safe.
“If you know where they are, you can plan ahead for any possible delays, or maybe you can take a different route,” Noble said. “Also, because distracted driving is one of the number one factors in work zone crashes, you can put your phone somewhere where you cannot see it and you cannot interact with it.”
Updated work zone information can be found on tripcheck.com.
Julia Boboc is a reporter with KLCC. This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
It is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page.
