Nearly 1,400 work zone crashes and 12 fatalities in PA in 2025.
PennDOT Innovations Challenge regional winners from schools across PA shared innovative work zone safety solutions.
Harrisburg, PA – As the weather gets warmer and more construction projects get underway, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) hosted an event today calling attention to work zone safety and urged drivers to slow down and pay attention in work zones.
The Shapiro Administration hosted the event along with the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC). Governor Josh Shapiro proclaimed April 20-24, 2026 National Work Zone Awareness Week as part of the administration’s mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians. The theme of this year’s awareness campaign is “Safe actions save lives.”
“Even one fatality is one too many,” said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet. “Last year, there were 12 fatalities in Pennsylvania work zones – and most of the deaths were drivers. Please slow down and pay attention in work zones. Your actions matter and it could save a life – maybe even your own.”
According to PennDOT data, in 2025 there were 1,393 work zone crashes, resulting in 12 fatalities. One of the most frequent contributing factors in fatal work zone crashes was driving too fast for conditions. In addition to crash data from police reports, PennDOT monitors work zone safety with internal reports. In 2025, there were 428 reported intrusions in PennDOT work zones. Of those work zone intrusions, 16 resulted in injuries to PennDOT employees.
“Thanks to collaboration within our organization and between our partners at PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has reduced the work zone crash rate by more than 20 percent,” said PA Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Mark Compton. “While the Pennsylvania Turnpike is proud of the work we have done to reduce our work zone crash rates, we are never satisfied until that number is zero. And we need our customers’ help to get there.”
"Work zone safety is personal to everyone in this industry,” said Associated Pennsylvania Constructors Executive Vice President Robert Latham. “The people in those hard hats are members of our communities, our neighbors, our friends, putting themselves at risk every day to move Pennsylvania forward. Meaningful strides have been made through strong partnerships and smart policies like the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, and APC is proud to stand with PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike in that effort. But laws and technology can only do so much. We're asking every driver to make a conscious choice — slow down, pay attention, and recognize that the person in that orange vest is someone's family."
The PennDOT and PA Turnpike worker memorials were on display during the event to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives while improving and maintaining Pennsylvania’s infrastructure. Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 93 workers in the line of duty. The PA Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1940.
Students from across the state were also in attendance, displaying their original work zone safety solutions as part of the annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge. Now in its ninth year, the Innovations Challenge is a statewide competition for high school students to develop creative and strategic solutions to real-world transportation issues, while also encouraging them to explore careers in transportation. This year’s contest asked students to develop a concept for the use of artificial intelligence in work zones to dramatically improve safety for work crews and road users.
The statewide winning team will be awarded a combined total of $6,000 from the Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors organization, the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA, the Mid-Atlantic Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the Intelligent Transportation Society of Pennsylvania, as well as certificates and trophies.
Many precautions are taken in work zones to keep workers safe, including proper training and routine safety inspections for workers, enhanced signing and information for drivers, and the use of positive protective equipment like crash trucks, barriers, and rumble strips. Drivers also play a role in keeping workers, themselves, and other drivers safe while traveling through work zones.
Pennsylvania's New Driver Work Zone Safety Program is a statewide training program to improve new driver safety and roadway worker protection. This free online training uses engaging videos, infographics, knowledge checks, and powerful testimonials to teach new drivers work zone laws, signage, and key facts, in addition to offering real-life scenarios to enhance understanding.
Pennsylvania’s Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record drivers exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices. Cameras are only operational in active work zones where workers are present. Work Zones that have speed safety cameras present and active will have high-visibility signs in advance of the enforcement area, alerting drivers to the upcoming enforcement. Registered owners receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice and $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses. These violations are civil penalties only; no points are assessed to driver’s licenses. For more information on the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed, visit workzonecameras.penndot.gov.
Drivers caught by police driving 11 mph or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted of failing to drive at a safe speed, will automatically lose their license for 15 days. Additionally, fines for certain traffic violations – including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices – are doubled in active work zones. The law also provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.
For more information on safe driving in Pennsylvania, visit pa.gov/dotsafety.
PennDOT’s media resources web page offers social media-sized graphics for numerous transportation-related campaigns, including safety topics such as aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belts for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
Drivers can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to local PennDOT news or statewide PennDOT news on the department’s website.
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