In the U.S., National Work Zone Awareness Day 2026 kicked off Monday, April 20, and continues through Friday, April 24. Law enforcement agencies and state departments of transportation across the nation are reminding drivers that “Safe actions save lives.”
It’s a simple message that all too many drivers ignore.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 40,170 people were injured in work zone crashes in the U.S. in 2023 (the latest year for which data is available). Worse, there were 898 fatalities linked to work zone crashes.
Of the 898 fatalities:
- 568 were in construction zones;
- 267 were in work zones of unknown type;
- 53 were in maintenance zones; and
- 10 were in utility zones.
From intensive safety training to a social media blitz, “Go Orange” day, a moment of silence to honor those lost or injured in work zone crashes, agencies throughout the U.S. are focused on educating commercial drivers, commuters and other drives of passenger vehicles, and roadway workers about work zone safety.
In Texas, they’re getting creative for a very important cause.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is marking the week with a simple but critical message: Slow down, stay alert and drive safely through work zones.
In the spirit of safety, some TxDOT employees have found a creative way to capture the public’s attention: According to a story posted on the TxDOT website, they’re turning retired traffic barrels into art. The eye-catching sculptures, crafted outside of employees’ working hours, are intended to spark curiosity and start conversations about safety.
In San Angelo, Texas, TxDOT workers have created “Tex,” a cowboy built from retired traffic cones and barrels, to commemorate the San Angelo Rodeo that wrapped up this past weekend.
Tex will be placed along Knickerbocker Road in San Angelo, “where he’ll greet passing drivers with a friendly wave, and serve as a reminder to slow down and stay alert in work zones,” the TxDOT story notes.
Other safety-inspired sculptures created this year include “Work Zone Willy,” a giant with a hard hat, a safety vest and a friendly wave; “Safe-T-Rex,” a dinosaur (of course!); and “Safe-T-Jake,” a friendly, non-venomous rattlesnake.
To learn more about Texas’ safety cone creatures, click here.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
