在阵亡将士纪念日周末的前夕（夏季驾驶季节的传统开始）surveyof contractors shows that accidents in highway construction work zones remain a major problem, with some indicators worsening in the past year.

Ken Simonson, AGC of America’s chief economist, said in a press briefing via Zoom that the changes in the latest of the group's annual survey from its 2020 report were not dramatic. But Simonson added, “unfortunately, they’re in the wrong direction.”

Among the survey’s results, released on May 25, 64% of the AGC member firms that responded reported that a motor vehicle had crashed into their highway construction zones in the past 12 years.

西蒙森说，这与对协会2021年调查的60％的回应相比。

他说，有538家成员公司参加了一系列年度工作区安全调查。

Among other indicators, 18% of those responding reported at least one construction worker injured in a work-zone accident. That percentage was about the same as in last year’s survey.

And 41% of the companies said that one or more motor-vehicle drivers or passengers was injured in work-zone crashes, compared with 35% in 2021.

In addition, 7% of those responding said work-zone crashes resulted in a construction worker fatality, up from 4% in 2021, and 15% said there were driver or passenger fatalities, up from 12% last year.

Moreover, 97% of respondents said highway work zones posed an equal or greater risk in 2021 compared with a year earlier.

Vehicle Speed and Mobile Phones

受访者说，事故的因素包括驾驶员使用手机，高速和交通繁忙。

另一个关键指标显示了类似的趋势。国家公路交通安全管理局的早期估计, released May 17, projected that overall U.S. traffic fatalities rose 10.5% in 2021, to 42,915—the highest level since 2005.

西蒙森说，随着大流行迁移到2021年，越来越多的司机回到了高速公路上，“不幸的是，当交通较小时，他们已经习惯了能够更快的速度。他们没有放慢脚步。”

Skip Poe, a principal with Smith Seckman Reid Inc., in Birmingham, Ala., said in the briefing that there is another factor. "In the past you were just driving fast. Now you’re driving fast, and you’re not paying attention.”

西蒙森说：“如果有的话，手机变得更加分散注意力，结果甚至是更多的悲剧。“

Simonson said the amount of highway and bridge construction work is likely to increase, because of the spending boosts provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law last Nov. 15.

支持更多警察在工作区

Asked what steps would help reduce the number of work-zone crashes, injuries and fatalities, 81% cited a “greater police presence” in construction work zones and 67% said stricter enforcement of existing laws.

Steve McGough, HCSS president and chief executive officer, advocated an increased police presence and said there should be two police officers at highway work zones. McGough said that a single police car, even with blue lights flashing, does not tend to slow drivers down.

他补充说：“您真的需要有两个”，一名官员能够“追踪违规者”并发行票。

McGough also favors using speed cameras that automatically trigger violation notices.

南卡罗来纳州自由主义者的国王沥青副总裁马蒂·麦基（Marty McKee）表示，他的公司经常在其工作地点有警察的存在。

McKee recalled one night when a police officer at a construction zone was actively enforcing the speed limit. “He started pulling some people over," McKee said, "and our people were literally cheering…because, you know, it got everybody’s attention.”