Pedestrian Fatalities in Work Zones
Work zone pedestrian fatalities encompass both workers and members of the public. 38% of pedestrian fatalities in work zones occurred while working in a review of 2018 NHTSA FARS data.
In 2023, 176 pedestrians were struck and killed inside a work zone. In 2023, 40% of pedestrians were struck and killed inside a work zone with a speed limit of 45 mph or less. 9 A single work zone intrusion can have high consequence outcomes (e.g. multiple employee deaths, severe long-term employee injuries, project delays, damaged/totaled equipment, rework, and/or liability).
"Injuries [from stuck by incidents] range from contusions and lacerations to fractures, crushing, and fatalities."
"Most injuries [to pedestrians] arising from these vehicle and ground impacts in adults are trauma to the head, legs and pelvis., tibial plateau fractures and ligamentous injuries of the knee, as well as traumatic brain injuries, are all common."
"[T]he most common cause of death of pedestrians is head injuries...Among all concurrent injuries, lower extremity/pelvic injuries were observed in 216 patients (23.56%)... Over one-third of pedestrians had 4 simultaneous injuries, with an average cost of $243,992 [2023 dollars], which was 1.6 times more than the cost of a pedestrian with only one injured part"
Tunnel, culvert, bridge repair work zones, etc. are known to be especially hazardous with high-speed traffic moving in close proximity to employees, roadside hazards, and/or little or no means for employees to escape from errant moving vehicles.
High-speed traffic is also well known to be hazardous for highway workers. A December 2024 IIHS study also found during an impact with a modern taller SUVs and pickup, pedestrians are at extremely high risk. When struck by a median U.S. pickup, a highway worker has an 85% likelihood of severe injury at just 33 mph and an 85% likelihood of dying at just 45 mph. [25]
“As crash speed increases from 15 mph to 35 mph, the risk of a serious injury [for a pedestrian] goes from 9% to 52% when a median-height car is involved. With a median pickup, the risk [of a serious injury for a pedestrian] shoots up from 11% to 91% [as crash speed increases from 15 mph to 35 mph]... The findings point to the need for policymakers and traffic engineers to account for the makeup of the U.S. fleet. A commonly used benchmark for a 'safe' crash speed is one at which the risk of serious injury is 10% or less.”
"So what can help protect against intrusions?... It is difficult to change the behavior of motorists...But we can and must institute protective measures like positive barriers and other available controls."
Work zone pedestrian fatalities are often assumed to be members of the public who have fallen into complacency walking a routine route. However, in 2018, 38% of pedestrian fatalities in work zones were actually on the job and primarily engaged in road work, utility work, and planning/surveying.
"Pedestrian involvement in fatal work zone crashes overall does not appear to be overrepresented on facilities in urban areas but is on minor arterials and collectors/local roads in rural areas. Given the low pedestrian involvement in non-work zone crashes on these facilities in general, it is likely that the overrepresentation reflects collisions with highway workers on foot on these facilities. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, 45 percent of all worker fatalities at road construction sites involve a vehicle striking a worker on foot [2019]."
Work activities at the time of death include activities such as installing traffic signs, reopening a lane, flagging, picking up debris, replacing damaged concrete, paving operations, exiting a work vehicle, utility work, construction labor, DOT electrical work, DOT maintenance work, fence contracting, repairing guardrail, stringing cable guard rail, and repairing a bridge.
Based on a review of each work zone pedestrian fatality, it is found that
- Activity: Many Pedestrian Fatalities in Work Zones occurred while working (38%, 46 of 122).
- Work Activity: The majority of Working Pedestrian Fatalities in Work Zones were engaged in road work, utility work, planning/surveying (87%, 40 of 46 Working Pedestrians).
- Work Hazard: The majority of Working Pedestrian Fatalities in Work Zones were killed by motorist incursions (80%, 37 of 46 Working Pedestrians)
- Location: Few Pedestrian Fatalities in Work Zones occurred at/near intersections (15%, 18 of 122).
Fatalities Resulting from Work Zone Crashes
9
(Mouseover data points for details.)
2018 Work Zone Crash Fatalities by Person Type
(Total: 754)
9
(Mouseover data points for details.)
38% of Pedestrian Work Zone Fatalities occured while working.
Primary Activity of the 122 Pedestrian Work Zone Fatalities (2018)
Few Pedestrian Work Zone Fatalities occurred at/near an intersection.
Location of the 122 Pedestrian Work Zone Fatalities (2018)
87% of Working Pedestrians were engaged in Road Work, Utility Work, or Planning/Surveying.
Work Activity of the 46 Working Pedestrians in Work Zones (2018)
Road Work activities at the time of death include activities such as installing traffic signs, reopening a lane, flagging, picking up debris, replacing damaged concrete, paving operations, exiting a work vehicle, utility work, construction labor, DOT electrical work, DOT maintenance work, fence contracting, repairing guardrail, stringing cable guard rail, and repairing a bridge.
80% of Working Pedestrians were killed by a motorist incursion into the work zone.
Hazard Contributing to the Death of the 46 Working Pedestrians in Work Zones (2018)
Methodology
Fatality data was obtained from the 2018 NHTSA FARS dataset 9 . Accident and Person datafiles were joined on ‘ST_CASE’ and filtered by ‘WRK_ZONE’>=1 (ACCIDENT file records a work zone), ‘INJ_SEV’==4 (PERSON file records a fatality for that person), and ‘PER_TYP’==5 (Person type recorded as Pedestrian). Each fatality was then categorized by Activity, Location, Work Type, and Work Hazard based on FARS, News Article, & OSHA case record information.