SPOKANE, Wash. — As crews gear up for springtime road work, the Washington State Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to be careful in work zones.
At a press conference Monday, the department said reckless driving in these areas can be dangerous for construction workers.
“It takes all of us working together to keep our people safe on the road,” said Matt Beattie, assistant regional administrator for maintenance and operations. “Every driver has a role to play in keeping highway workers safe. Their lives depend on it.”
According to the department, over 1,500 collisions happened in work zones in Washington in 2025. Nine of those crashes were fatal, compared to seven in 2024.
The department said the most common causes of these collisions are following other cars too closely, speeding and distracted driving. When drivers come across construction along roads, the department said it’s important to slow down, obey traffic rules and watch out for construction workers.
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