Each year in April, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) serves as a nationwide reminder at the start of construction season of the risks faced by roadway workers and the traffic control professionals who protect them, as well as the role every driver plays in keeping them safe.
At Flagger Force, that message doesn’t start or stop with a single week. It’s built into how we operate every day. NWZAW gives us an opportunity to amplify that message, connect with our partners, and reinforce the many ways our team is committed to protecting the people who keep our infrastructure moving and to ensuring everyone gets home safely.
Tampa, Florida – Thursday, April 16
We kicked off National Work Zone Awareness Week a few days early in Tampa, Florida, alongside industry partners and local stakeholders committed to advancing work zone safety. Flagger Force extends special thanks to Roy Jorgensen Associates for partnering with us to host this event, which brought together a strong network of organizations, including:
- Badgelinc
- City of Tampa
- Safety Products Inc
- Starlink Construction Utilities LLC
- Team Fishel
We also appreciate the support of Representative Pittman’s office and their commitment to creating safer roadways.
Local news stations, including Bay News 9, FOX13 Tampa Bay, and 10 Tampa Bay, attended the event to help extend critical safety messaging beyond the jobsite and into the broader Tampa Bay-area community.
Throughout the day, one message remained front and center: behind every work zone are real people, the workers who are building and repairing our nation’s infrastructure and the traffic control professionals who protect them. People who rely on drivers to make safe, attentive decisions. This idea is at the core of our People Aren’t ConesSM safety awareness campaign, which spotlights the human side of work zone safety and the science behind visibility.
Central Pennsylvania – Monday, April 20
In Central Pennsylvania, where Flagger Force is proud to be headquartered, President and CEO Mike Doner joined FOX43 News for a series of live morning interviews, helping bring work zone safety directly into homes across the region.
Appearing during the 7, 8, and 9 a.m. broadcasts, Mike reinforced the importance of:
- Slowing down in work zones
- Staying alert behind the wheel
- Recognizing the real risks workers face every day
These conversations helped amplify the People Aren’t ConesSM message and ensured it reached a broader audience during a critical time of year. Watch the FOX43 coverage here.
Regional Events – Tuesday, April 21 & Wednesday, April 22
Maryland
On Tuesday, April 21, our team was proud to participate in the Maryland State Highway Administration’s NWZAW press event in Prince George’s County, joining partners from across the state to reinforce the importance of work zone safety. Flagger Force Safety Advocate, Dawn Hopkins, shared firsthand insight into what it’s like to work in active traffic environments and emphasized the critical things drivers can do to make a difference, including steps drivers can take to navigate work zones safely.
We were honored to stand alongside organizations, including:
- Maryland Department of Transportation
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
- Maryland State Police
- Concrete General Inc.
New data released during the event highlighted continued progress in work zone safety across Maryland while reinforcing the need for ongoing driver awareness and accountability.
Additionally, the Flagger Force team stood alongside industry partners to support the Maryland Work Zone Safety Unity Ride on Wednesday, April 22. Coordinated by the Maryland Transportation Builders & Materials Association, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, and the Maryland Transportation Authority, the event brings people together for a clear purpose: to raise awareness, honor those impacted by work zone incidents, and reinforce the responsibility every driver shares when entering a work zone. The ride connects contractors, public officials, and community members in a visible show of commitment to safer roadways. Through the ceremonial ride, speaker remarks, and moments of reflection, the message is straightforward and urgent. The choices made behind the wheel directly affect the men and women working just feet away. Participating in events like this reflects Flagger Force’s ongoing commitment to protecting our people, strengthening industry partnerships, and advancing work zone safety across every community we serve.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, Flagger Force team members attended the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s NWZAW press conference on Tuesday, April 21, connecting with traffic safety partners and engaging with exhibits focused on improving work zone safety. These conversations, and the technologies and strategies behind them, continue to shape how we improve visibility, communication, and protection for crews working in live traffic environments.
Trade Media Collaboration
As part of this year’s efforts in collaborating with trade publications for NWZAW, Mike Doner, Flagger Force’s President and CEO, and Luke Lazar, Vice President of Risk and Safety, connected with Gavin Jenkins, Head of Content for Roads & Bridges magazine, to discuss how work zone safety must extend beyond a single week.
The conversation reinforced what we see every day in the field: safety is built through consistent awareness, planning, and shared responsibility 52 weeks a year. Watch the Roads & Bridges feature here.
Reflecting with Gratitude on an Impactful Week
National Work Zone Awareness Week may be one week on the calendar each year, but the responsibility to protect roadway workers and traffic control professionals continues every day.
At Flagger Force, our Safety-Driven® culture guides how we plan, communicate, and operate in every work zone. It’s a commitment to protecting our crews, supporting our clients, and helping ensure the communities we serve stay safe and moving.
We extend our thanks to our employees, clients, and industry partners for their continued efforts during National Work Zone Awareness Week and throughout the year. Because when it comes to work zone safety, it takes all of us doing our part.
