What is Work Zone Awareness Week?
National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual campaign held each spring to coincide with the start of construction season. The goal: encourage drivers to slow down, stay alert, and prioritize safety while passing through highway work zones.
This year’s NWZAW runs from April 21–25, and Carolinas AGC is proud to stand with members, state agencies, and industry partners to champion safer work zones across North and South Carolina. Learn more about the national campaign at nwzaw.org.
New Safety Committee Driving Change
In response to the troubling rise in work zone crashes and fatalities in recent years, Carolinas AGC has formed a dedicated Work Zone Safety Committee, chaired by Eric Yates of Balfour Beatty. In partnership with CAGC’s lobbyists and Safety Committee, the team is already making meaningful strides in both states.
As a result of this advocacy:
- Newly licensed drivers in NC and SC are now required to complete a one-hour online course focused on work zone safety.
- The goal: educate young drivers on the importance of safe speeds, alert driving, and respect for roadside crews.
This is just the beginning. The committee is actively pushing for additional measures, including:
-
Speed safety traffic cameras
- Expanded public awareness campaigns
- Stronger enforcement tools to protect field personnel
Help Us Advocate for Stronger Protections
Data-Driven Advocacy in NC & SC
A recent NCDOT analysis confirmed what many crews already know: drivers are regularly speeding through active work zones, significantly increasing the risk of crashes. Carolinas AGC will use this data to push for legislative change during the 2025 NC General Assembly session.
To strengthen our case and further protect our workforce, we need your help. We’re asking all highway, utility, and general contractors working in or around active work zones to help us collect critical data.
Have you experienced a crash or a near miss in a work zone?
Your firsthand reports can shape future legislation and improve protections statewide.
Submit Your Crash or Near Miss Report
What’s a Near Miss?
A near miss occurs when an unauthorized vehicle enters an active work zone, posing a danger to crews—but doesn’t result in a collision or injury.
Help AGC Improve Highway Work Zone Safety
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance work zone safety nationwide, AGC of America, in partnership with HCSS, is encouraging all highway and transportation contractors to complete the 2025 Highway Work Zone Safety Survey by
Friday, May 9.
This brief survey gathers critical data on the frequency, severity, and impact of highway work zone crashes, along with potential solutions. The results will be used in a national media and public education campaign launching ahead of Memorial Day to urge motorists to drive safely through active work zones.
AGC will also use the findings to support its work with chapters—including Carolinas AGC—to advocate for stronger safety legislation and increased enforcement in highway work zones.
Click here to complete the survey by May 9.
For questions about the survey or how the data will be used, contact Brian Turmail at 703-459-0238 or
brian.turmail@agc.org.
How You Can Participate in NWZAW
Join us in Raleigh on April 22 as we help kick off National Work Zone Awareness Week with the NCDOT.
View Event Details
More details on a corresponding SCDOT press conference are expected soon.
We encourage all members to take part in this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week activities:
- Wednesday, April 23: Go Orange Day
Wear orange to show your support for work zone safety.
- Thursday, April 24: Social Media Storm
Post work zone safety messages and photos on your platforms. Use hashtags #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety.
- Friday, April 25: Moment of Silence
Join the construction community in a moment of remembrance for those who lost their lives in work zone incidents.
Together, we can protect the lives of the men and women who build and maintain our infrastructure. Carolinas AGC is committed to driving change—and we need your voice to make it happen.
For more information, contact:
Jacob Garmon
Director of Safety, Suppliers, and Sponsorships
(704) 372-1450, ext. 5222
jgarmon@carolinasagc.org