Highway Workers Are Vulnerable Road Users, ARTBA Tells FHWA

What happened: As the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) considers changes to its Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), ARTBA April 17 filed comments urging the agency to “assert unequivocally” that highway workers be labeled as “vulnerable road users.” HSIP is a federally funded program that helps states reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. The rule, as it stands, expands the program’s focus to include all roadway users and requires states to assess their existing safety plans for groups such as the disabled, disadvantaged, and pedestrians, while overlooking one extremely vulnerable group – transportation construction workers.

Why it matters: The most recent statistics available show that 891 people lost their lives building and maintaining the nation’s roads and bridges in 2022. This number is down from 961 fatalities the previous year, but still tragically too high. ARTBA’s filing comes during National Work Zone Awareness Week aimed at promoting safe driving and safe jobsites.

What’s next: After reviewing comments on the proposal, FHWA will issue a final regulation. No timeline has been provided. ARTBA members may contact Brad Sant or Prianka Sharma for more information.