National Work Zone Awareness Week: Every Cone Protects a Life

How National Work Zone Awareness Week Began

National Work Zone Awareness Week was launched in 2000 as a collaborative effort between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

It began with a simple but powerful goal:

To raise public awareness of work zone safety and reduce accidents and fatalities involving workers, motorists, and pedestrians.

The very first national event was held in Springfield, Virginia, and since then, NWZAW has grown into a nationwide movement, with transportation departments, contractors, and construction companies across the country participating in Go Orange Day, educational events, and safety campaigns.

Each year, a different state hosts the national kickoff event to spotlight ongoing efforts and innovations in work zone safety.

Why Work Zone Safety Matters

According to national statistics, over 700 fatalities occur in work zones every year. The majority of those killed are drivers and passengers—not just workers. These zones can be unpredictable, with changing traffic patterns, narrowed lanes, and moving equipment—all of which require drivers to stay alert and slow down.

At Comer Construction, we treat every zone as a life-critical space. It’s not just a job site—it’s where our team members operate heavy machinery, direct traffic, and pour the foundations of safer roads and stronger communities.

Our Commitment to Safer Work Zones: MOT Services in Maryland

One of the key ways Comer Construction protects both workers and the public is through our Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) services. We provide expert traffic control planning, set-up, and execution across Maryland to ensure that construction sites remain safe, compliant, and efficient.

Our MOT team is certified and trained in:

• Traffic pattern shifts
• Detour management
• Flagging operations
• Lane closures and barricade installation
• Work zone signage and visibility

These services are essential not just for compliance, but for saving lives. By managing how traffic moves through and around construction zones, we reduce the likelihood of accidents—and give our teams the confidence to do their work safely.

🔗 Learn more about our MOT services in Maryland »

How You Can Help Keep Work Zones Safe

Work zone safety isn’t just up to construction crews. As drivers, your actions make a huge difference in keeping everyone safe. Here’s how you can help:

• Slow down as you approach work zones
• Pay attention to signage, cones, and flaggers
• Avoid distractions—no texting, no multitasking
• Move over if you can safely give workers space
• Be patient—your caution helps save lives

Safety is Built Into Everything We Do

As a leader in civil construction for over 30 years, Comer Construction takes pride in building Maryland’s infrastructure safely and efficiently. From excavation and grading to underground utilities and traffic control, we go the extra mile to protect our people—and yours.

Let’s make every work zone a safe zone—this week and every week.

About Comer Construction

Comer Construction is a women-owned site construction company specializing in site preparation and underground utilities. Since 1982, we’ve developed a reputation of excellence, built upon strict adherence to a set of values: Safety, Integrity, Quality, Commitment and Teamwork. Our team of highly-skilled craftsman and certified professionals perform all aspects of our services and can quickly adapt to your project’s particular needs.

Put our reputation to work on your next project. Contact Comer Construction today!