The importance of traffic control in the work zone

Traffic control in Puerto Rico has never been more crucial, and the need is supported by the high number of vehicle accidents reported by the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP). According to the DTOP 2024 report - After 2020, crashes increased by 5.0%, 10.2%, and 28.7% for the years 2021 (158,302), 2022 (166,060), and 2023 (193,975), respectively, compared to the number of crashes in 2016 (150,748), which was the highest before 2021. According to the same report the number of traffic crashes involving commercial vehicles have increased since 2019 (7), 2021 (8), 2022 (826).  

According to WorkZoneSafety.org, in 2019, approximately four out of every five work zone fatalities involved vehicles and resulted in an average of two people per day being killed. The American Society of Civil Engineers reports that despite being aware of the risks, at least 50% of drivers engage in distracting activities while driving, The Traffic Safety Commission Annual Report for 2020 shows that there were 5,377 serious traffic injuries and 1,855 fatalities in 2019. 

The data indicates a concerning trend of increasing safety zone fatalities. Work Zone Barriers data shows a 50% increase in work zone fatalities from 2013 to 2024 with over 115,000 work zone crashes reported, in 2019 resulting in more than 39,000 injuries and 842 fatalities. Despite lower traffic volumes during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, work zone crashes and fatalities continued to rise. A survey in 2021 revealed that 60% of highway contractors experienced crashes in their work zones, and 89% believed that enhanced protection measures could improve safety on their projects.