Industry-leading, Safety-Driven, short-term traffic control company urges drivers to stay alert, slow down, and follow posted signs and traffic control professionals’ directions—because cones don’t get hurt. People do.
Baltimore, Maryland – As the nation prepares to recognize National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 20 to 24, 2026), Flagger Force, an industry-leading, Safety-Driven, short-term traffic control company with operations in Maryland and across the eastern third of the United States, is reminding motorists of a simple but powerful truth—People Aren’t Cones. Equipment can be replaced. People can’t.
Every day, traffic control professionals stand just feet from moving traffic to protect both roadway workers and the traveling public. While many people assume the most dangerous part of the job is standing in the roadway directing traffic, the reality is different. The greatest risk occurs during setup and teardown when advance warning signs and traffic control equipment are being set or removed. During these critical moments, the full work zone is not established, and drivers may not be aware of what is ahead, making traffic control personnel vulnerable.
As a leader in short-term traffic control, operating more than 1,000 active work zones daily, Flagger Force has unfortunately seen firsthand the dangers that occur when drivers disregard trucks with flashing amber lights, fail to notice workers in high-visibility yellow apparel setting up and tearing down equipment, or disobey laws that dictate proper conduct. These actions can have tragic consequences for traffic control professionals, roadway workers, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, in 2025, there were 1,146 work zone crashes across the state resulting in 449 non-fatal injuries and seven fatalities. Preliminary data for 2026 shows 143 work zone crashes have occurred resulting in 24 non-fatal injuries. Behind every statistic is a real person and a life that has been changed forever.
As work zones increase across Maryland this spring and summer, Flagger Force is urging drivers to remember that “Safe Actions Save Lives,” which is the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week campaign. Every decision and action behind the wheel matters. Staying alert for work zones even on roads where they are least expected, slowing down for workers in high-visibility yellow protective gear, and obeying all posted signage can make the difference between a life saved and a life lost.
- Stay Alert Before the First Cone. Traffic control professionals are often the first and last people out on a road when setting up or removing cones, signs, and other equipment. During these times, they have no protection other than high-visibility apparel, making it essential for people behind the wheel to stay alert and eliminate distractions. In Maryland, cell phone laws prohibit talking or texting from a handheld device while driving. In addition to electronic devices, other distractions, such as adjusting in-vehicle technology, reaching for dropped items, talking to passengers, or tending to unrestrained pets can all take attention away from the road. Even familiar routes, like a daily commute to work, can lead to complacency and reduced focus. When behind the wheel, a moment of inattentiveness can put passengers, other drivers, roadway workers, and pedestrians in danger. Stay alert to ensure everyone makes it to their destination safely.
- See Yellow & Flashing Lights? Slow Down. Speeding is a leading cause of work zone-related incidents. Even a small increase in speed puts roadway workers and drivers at risk and can make collisions more severe. In January 2025, the Maryland Department of Transportation implemented a tiered fine structure for work zone speed violations. If an automated speed enforcement system captures a vehicle speeding, the driver will be fined based on how much they exceeded the posted speed limit (e.g. 12 to 15 MPH above the speed limit results in a $60 fine). If workers are present when the violation occurs, fines are doubled. During National Work Zone Awareness Week, Flagger Force urges drivers to continue to slow down immediately when they see trucks with flashing amber lights or workers in high-visibility safety apparel. These signals indicate a work zone is being set up, taken down, or is in operation.
- Keep a Safe Following Distance. Work zones often require drivers to slow down significantly, stop, and/or navigate new traffic patterns. When drivers tailgate, sudden changes in traffic flow can lead to rear-end collisions. Leaving plenty of space between vehicles gives drivers more time to react and can prevent accidents. Remember to stay back to stay safe.
- Move Over. Maryland’s Move Over law requires motorists who encounter any stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying warning signals, such as hazard lights, traffic cones, or other caution indicators to move over a lane. This creates additional space and reduces the risk of a collision with the stationary vehicle. If it is not possible to move over, drivers must reduce their speed, per the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration.
- Understand Maryland’s Traffic Laws. Drivers must understand their state’s traffic laws. As new legislation aimed at improving work zone safety is enacted and enforced, community members must be aware of their responsibilities as well as the consequences of violating these laws, such as fines, criminal implications, and, more importantly, causing serious injuries or death. Work zone safety isn’t optional. It’s a shared responsibility.
“At Flagger Force, we invest in industry-leading training and education. We invest in the latest technology and top-of-the-line equipment. And we made a deliberate decision at the beginning of our company’s history to use full-body, reflective, and high-visibility yellow personal protective equipment (PPE) because people aren’t cones. Orange belongs to traffic control equipment. Yellow signals something different—a human being. When drivers see yellow, they must slow down and drive carefully not just in established work zones, but those being set up and torn down too. This is when risk rises and traffic control professionals rely solely on their PPE to alert drivers of their presence,” said Mike Doner, President & CEO of Flagger Force.
Luke Lazar, Vice President of Risk and Safety, added, “The professionals in our nation’s work zones are real people with families, hobbies, and responsibilities beyond the roadway. That’s why it’s imperative we recognize National Work Zone Awareness Week and do everything in our power to keep them safe. While PPE, technology, and training are essential, these components must be complemented by vital driver awareness. If a driver makes one bad decision behind the wheel, it can end a life, cause serious injury, and change the lives of many people forever. The fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends who perform tasks in work zones every day can’t be replaced.”
In addition to raising critical awareness across communities about the important role drivers play in keeping work zones safe, Flagger Force will host and participate in events across the East Coast and Midwest, collaborate with clients and industry associations, and offer employees special training courses as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Founded by the Virginia Department of Transportation, National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual campaign held each spring at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through work zones. State departments of transportation, government agencies, businesses, and safety professionals all come together to recognize the campaign. Through public education, outreach, and community engagement, National Work Zone Awareness Week aims to enhance work zone safety and prevent tragic incidents. For additional information, please visit https://www.nwzaw.org/.
About Flagger Force
Flagger Force is recognized as an industry-leading, Safety-Driven, short-term traffic control company, headquartered in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, with operations across the eastern third of the United States. They utilize a crew-centric operations model to establish safe work zones with a full-time employee base of over 3,000 professionals. Flagger Force’s best-in-class resources and expertise have driven the consistent growth of their service capacity to help support the nation’s expanding utilities, telecommunications, and other infrastructure-centered needs. For more information, visit FlaggerForce.com.