Drive Safe in Arlington: 2026 Work Zone Awareness Week April 20-24

Published on April 21, 2026

Group of employees at a worksite

By Department of Public Works

Road work is dangerous work, especially when crews are working near active traffic. Anyone who has driven through Arlington has no doubt encountered a construction work zone. The Public Works and Water Utilities Departments are working to make necessary improvements to the City’s streets and water infrastructure; however, with this progress comes construction work zones. While these work zones may be an inconvenience to some, they play a vital role in improving the City’s infrastructure.

Each spring at the start of construction season, the Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the American Traffic Safety Services Association, coordinates and sponsors the National Work Zone Awareness campaign with the goal of educating drivers on how to save lives by avoiding preventable crashes in work zones. The theme for this year’s campaign, which takes place April 20-24, is “Safe Actions, Save Lives.”  Click here to learn more about National Work Zone Awareness campaign.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation most recent data, there were over 200 traffic fatalities in the state’s work zones. In 2025, nearly 28,000 traffic crashes occurred in work zones in Texas, resulting in 203 deaths including 7 roadside workers. The vast majority of those killed, 84%, were drivers or their passengers.

Work zones present a different and sometimes challenging environment for drivers to navigate. Motorists may encounter uneven pavement, narrow lanes, concrete barriers, slow-moving heavy equipment, and vehicles that make sudden stops. Help keep our workers and everyone on the road safe by slowing down in work zones. The tips below are important reminders to help ensure that you and construction crews get home safely each night:

  • Slow down: Follow the speed limit and adjust your speed to road conditions. What's safe for normal conditions may not be safe in a work zone.
  • Stay alert: Focus on driving, avoid distractions, and put your phone away.
  • Never tailgate: Give yourself room to stop in a hurry. Rear-end collisions are the most common kind of work zone crashes.
  • Watch out for road crews: Roadside workers want to get home safely too. Always follow their instructions and work zone signs.
  • Allow extra time: Road construction can slow things down. Plan ahead so you are not tempted to speed.

In addition to increasing work zone awareness, TxDOT would like to remind drivers of the state’s Move Over/Slow Down law that requires drivers to move over one lane or reduce their speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when approaching a TxDOT vehicle, emergency vehicle, law enforcement, tow truck, or utility vehicle stopped on the roadside or shoulder with its flashing lights activated.

Traffic fines double in work zones when workers are present and can cost up to $2,000. Failure to heed the Move Over/Slow Down law can also result in a fine of up to $2,000.

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