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An Online Guide to Reducing Work Zone Intrusions
Using Positive Protection

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Last updated: 6/11/2025

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 2018.

In 2023, 176 pedestrians were struck and killed inside a work zone. Alarmingly, in 2023, 40% of pedestrians were struck and killed inside a work zone with a speed limit of 45 mph or less. 9

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.”

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.

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.

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Footnotes

1 Temporary Traffic Control Devices, 23 U.S.C. § 112(g).
2 Definitions, Subpart K - Temporary Traffic Control Devices, 23 C.F.R. § 630.1104.
3 Positive Protection Measures Defined, 23 U.S.C. 112(g)(4).
4 2019 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Highway Workzone Safety Study.
5 2018 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Highway Workzone Safety Study.
6 2017 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Highway Workzone Safety Study.
7 2016 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Highway Workzone Safety Study.
8 Estimated Total Crashes & Injuries Data: 2013-2015 data from NHTSA National Automotive Sampling General Estimates System (NASS/GES). NHTSA retired NASS/GES at the end of 2015. 2016-2019 data from NHTSA's replacement Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS).
9 Fatalities Data: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Encyclopedia. 2019 is the last year with available data.
10 Positive Protection Devices, Subpart K - Temporary Traffic Control Devices, 23 C.F.R. § 630.1108(a)(1-5).
11 Payment for Traffic Control, Subpart K - Temporary Traffic Control Devices, 23 C.F.R. § 630.1108(f)(2).
12 "Portable Positive Protection: A Guide for Short Duration and Short Term Work Zones", Updated by Mobile Barriers LLC, Based on Material Developed by ATSSA for the FHWA Work Zone Safety Grant Program (June 2016).
13 U.S. Department of Transportation, "Guidance on Treatment of the Economic Value of a Statistical Life in U.S. Department of Transportation Analyses - 2016 Adjustment," (August 8, 2016).
14 UC Davis/AHMCT, “A Risk Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis for [Highly Mobile Barriers],” Technical Report Number UCD-ARR-08-09-30-01, (2008). Ibid, Attachment 3.
15 Mobile Barriers LLC internal crash analysis for Washington D.C. located highly mobile barrier.
16 Former Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
17 2013 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Highway Workzone Safety Study.
18 2014 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Highway Workzone Safety Study.
19 2015 Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Highway Workzone Safety Study.
20 Work Zone Crashes Climb During Pandemic, Even as Traffic Ebbs, PEW Charitable Trusts, October 6, 2020.
21 Missouri work zone crashes double despite half the traffic, Better Roads, September 1, 2020.
22 Ohio DOT reports string of work-zone crashes despite less traffic, Better Roads, June 8, 2020.
23 CDOT and CSP warn that not all workplaces are meant to zoom: Fatal crashes in work zones on the rise Journal Advocate, November 27, 2020.
24 An Optimization Methodology to Improve Work Zone Safety within a Limited Budget in a Roadway Network, Promothes Saha, Ph.D., International Conference on Transportation and Development 2020 : Transportation Safety.
25 IIHS, "Vehicle height compounds dangers of speed for pedestrians". December 10, 2024. Available at: https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/vehicle-height-compounds-dangers-of-speed-for-pedestrians#:~:text=As%20far%20as%20fatalities%20were,mph%2C%20it%20exceeded%2080%25.