Celebrating One Year of The New Driver Work Zone Safety Program
The PA Turnpike’s New Driver Work Zone Safety Program marks one year of saving lives and teaching safer driving in construction zones.
A year ago, the Pennsylvania Turnpike took a major step toward improving driver safety in work zones across the Commonwealth. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the PA Turnpike launched the New Driver Work Zone Safety Program during National Teen Driver Safety Week last October.
Closing a Crucial Gap in Work Zone Safety Education
This course helps new drivers safely navigate construction zones, which present daily changes that are pose significant risks to drivers and workers alike. In 2023 alone, work zone crashes resulted in 898 fatalities and 40,170 injuries across the United States.
By working together, we can create safer roadways and honor the lives of those lost to work zone crashes, including the 45 Pennsylvania Turnpike workers who have died while performing their duties since 1940.
The New Driver Work Zone Safety Program Provides Strategies for Traveling Through Work Zones
The Program is one way we are working to create a shared sense of public responsibility. This free, 35-minute online course, which is available in English and Spanish, uses dynamic videos, infographics, and real-life scenarios that make learning engaging and accessible. It enhances driver confidence, reduces crash risks, and ultimately saves lives.
Achievements to date include:
- Surpassing participation goals, with more than 1,200 participants completing training.
- Becoming a required training course for the PA Turnpike’s 1,400 employees.
- Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting an increased understanding of safe work zone behaviors.
Its role in promoting safe driving habits in work zones has not gone unnoticed. House Bill 257, introduced by Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Ed Neilson, aims to make this training a mandatory component of obtaining a Pennsylvania driver’s license. If passed, it would set a national precedent for incorporating work zone safety education into driver training curricula.
The New Driver Work Zone Safety Program will continue to evolve. Plans are underway to translate the course into additional languages, expanding its reach, and advocating for fellow transportation organizations to create their own programs.
The New Driver Work Zone Safety Program is an educational tool that is critical to helping drivers make safe decisions behind the wheel. It is also another way the PA Turnpike collaborates with fellow government agencies, educational institutions and the community to safeguard the lives of drivers and roadway workers alike.
For more information about the program or to take the free course, visit the website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New Driver Work Zone Safety Program?
It is a free, 35-minute online course launched by the PA Turnpike and PennDOT to teach safe driving in construction zones.
Why is work zone safety training important for new drivers?
Work zones play a critical role in maintaining and upgrading our roadways. Changes in traffic patterns and speed variables, narrowed rights-of-way, and other construction activities require heightened awareness and careful navigation. Training reduces risks for drivers and workers.
Is the Work Zone Safety Program required in Pennsylvania?
Currently, it is voluntary, but House Bill 257 proposes making it a required part of driver licensing.
Who can take the course and in what languages is it available?
Anyone can take the free course, which is currently offered in English and Spanish.
What are the next steps for the program?
Plans include adding more languages and encouraging adoption by other transportation agencies nationwide.