HR 423 — A Resolution recognizing the week of April 20 through 24, 2026, as "National Work Zone Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.   2959

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 423
                                              Session of
                                                2026

     INTRODUCED BY MARKOSEK, HARKINS, BURGOS, SANCHEZ, RIVERA, HILL-
        EVANS, CONKLIN, McNEILL, MAYES, NEILSON, DOUGHERTY, KHAN,
        COOPER, GALLAGHER AND DELLOSO, MARCH 2, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 3, 2026


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Recognizing the week of April 20 through 24, 2026, as "National
 2      Work Zone Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, "National Work Zone Awareness Week" is an annual
 4   campaign held at the start of the road construction season to
 5   encourage drivers to use extra caution when traveling through
 6   highway work zones; and
 7      WHEREAS, Originating in Virginia in 1997, the campaign went
 8   national in 2000, with partnerships between state departments of
 9   transportation, national road safety organizations, government
10   agencies, private companies and advocates; and
11      WHEREAS, In preparation for the first official "National Work
12   Zone Awareness Week," the American Traffic Safety Services
13   Association, along with the Federal Highway Administration and
14   the American Association of State Highway Transportation
15   Officials, outlined the goals for the campaign's efforts; and
16      WHEREAS, The organizations agreed that the goals of "National
17   Work Zone Awareness Week" are to:
 1             (1)   Initiate efforts to raise awareness of the need for
 2         more caution when driving through work zones to decrease
 3         fatalities and injuries.
 4             (2)   Establish and promote a uniform set of safety tips.
 5             (3)   Ensure that the value of training and the importance
 6         of best practices in regard to work zone safety would be
 7         promoted among individuals in the private sector, industry
 8         and roadway workers.
 9             (4)   Reach out to both roadway workers and contractors to
10         communicate possible effects of motorists' behavior in
11         response to traffic delays and advise on what steps might
12         possibly be taken to lessen negative behavior.
13             (5)   Ensure that outreach efforts would be made to work
14         with entities involved with work zone safety and to form
15         partnerships;
16   and
17         WHEREAS, This year's recognition will focus the week's events
18   on the theme "Safe actions, save lives"; and
19         WHEREAS, This year's events include "Work Zone Safety
20   Training Day" on Monday, April 20, a national kickoff event
21   hosted by the Connecticut Department of Transportation on
22   Tuesday, April 21, "Go Orange Day" on Wednesday, April 22, a
23   social media storm on Thursday, April 23, and the Moment of
24   Silence on Friday, April 24; and
25         WHEREAS, Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety
26   Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System highlights
27   the critical need for drivers to slow down and remain focused
28   while approaching and passing through a roadway work zone; and
29         WHEREAS, In 2023, the most recent year in which national data
30   is available, there were 898 people killed and 40,170 people

20260HR0423PN2959                     - 2 -
 1   injured in work zone crashes; and
 2      WHEREAS, The remainder and vast majority of those killed were
 3   motorists and their passengers; and
 4      WHEREAS, The Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth
 5   reports that in 2024 there were 1,250 crashes in work zones
 6   across this Commonwealth, resulting in 22 fatalities; therefore
 7   be it
 8      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
 9   week of April 20 through 24, 2026, as "National Work Zone
10   Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
11      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
12   motorists of this Commonwealth to recognize the importance of
13   slowing down, paying attention and using extra caution when
14   traveling through roadway work zones for the safety of
15   themselves, other travelers and the construction crews who are
16   working hard to improve the integrity of this Commonwealth's
17   roads.




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