# Highway Work Zones: Driver Risks Outweigh Workers

> Motorists face 60% more crashes than workers in highway zones.
- Title: Highway Work Zones: Driver Risks Outweigh Workers · Jalopnik
- Summary: Motorists face 60% more crashes than workers in highway zones. Motorists account for 673 of 850 work zone deaths in 2024, with driver-passenger injuries far…
- Keywords: highway work zones, motorist injuries, construction workers, federal highway administration, associated general contractors, arterial roads, distracted driving, work zone safety, cars, culture, Highway, Work
- Source: Jalopnik — https://jalopnik.com/2273814/how-dangerous-are-highway-work-zones
- Author: Charles Krome
- Published: 2026-10-04T11:05:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: highway work zones, motorist injuries, construction workers, federal highway administration, associated general contractors, arterial roads, distracted driving, work zone safety, cars, culture
## Who Faces Greater Risk?
Motorists continue to face far greater risks than construction workers in highway work zone crashes.

> Motorists continue to face far greater risks than construction workers in highway work zone crashes
## Work Zone Crash Statistics
27% of contractors saw worker injuries, but 60% saw driver-passenger injuries.

> 27% had seen incidents involving worker injuries. Yet nearly 60% had seen crashes that led to driver-passenger injuries
## Fatalities in 2024
850 work zone deaths in 2024, 673 driver-passenger fatalities.

> 850 total work-zone deaths, representing a 46% jump since 2010
## Economic Impact
113,000 work zone crashes caused $41 billion in economic costs.

> approximately 113,000 work-zone crashes overall, causing some $41 billion in associated economic costs
## Work Crew Safety Concerns
40% of workers want stricter penalties for traffic infractions in work zones.

> 40% of work-crew members wanted more drastic penalties for traffic infractions in work zones
## Why Work Zones Are Dangerous
Arterial roads with heavy traffic, speeding, and distracted driving cause most crashes.

> Most work-zone crashes happen on arterial roads, where traffic patterns change and speeding is common
## Key takeaway

Motorists account for 673 of 850 work zone deaths in 2024, with driver-passenger injuries far exceeding worker injuries.