TOWSON, MD—With road construction season underway, the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) is reminding motorists to exercise caution and slow down in work zones. The department echoes the National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 21-25) theme, “Respect the zone so we all get home.”
This annual campaign, which has been held since 2000, emphasizes the importance of Maryland laws aimed at preventing work zone accidents, such as speeding, distractions, impaired driving, and failing to move over. DPWT Director Lauren Buckler stressed the shared responsibility for work zone safety, stating, “Drive safe. A reminder that Work Zones need everyone’s undivided attention. Our most important priority is ensuring the safety of our crews and that every worker makes it home at the end of the day.”
The reminder comes as DPWT crews continue daily work on projects like water main installations, road repaving, bridge repairs, and tree branch removals. These often place workers in close proximity to moving traffic, sometimes mere feet away from fast-moving vehicles.
The Maryland Highway Safety Office reported a sobering statistic: 7,110 work zone-related crashes between 2019 and 2023 in the state. These incidents resulted in 2,587 injuries and 45 fatalities. Since January 1, 2025, Maryland has implemented a tiered fine system for work zone speeding violations, ranging from $60 to $500, with fines doubled in the presence of workers.
Motorists are urged to be alert and prepared for changing conditions within work zones. The DPWT recommends using detours when possible, reducing speed, observing all signs and signals, anticipating sudden stops or slowdowns, adhering to Maryland’s Move Over laws, and refraining from aggressive, distracted, or impaired driving.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo via Pixabay
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