TDOT emphasizes safety in construction areas amid a rise in accidents by 2025

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is asking drivers to exercise caution on roadways as it observes National Work Zone Awareness Week.

TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi told News Channel 11 on Tuesday that more TDOT vehicles have been hit so far in 2025 than by the same time in 2024.

“This calendar year alone, we’ve had 35 of our TDOT trucks, the attenuators or help trucks, dump trucks, wherever it may be, that have been struck by oncoming vehicles,” Nagi said. “And that’s even more than last year. At this time, we had about 29 of those. So unfortunately, crashes like this happen quite often.”

During National Work Zone Awareness Week and throughout the year, TDOT urges drivers to reduce their speed when workers are present.

“Just slowing down can make a huge difference because if you don’t slow down, you have reduced lane widths in a lot of these areas,” Nagi said. “You have close quarters, and not slowing down can have extreme circumstances.”

Since the late 1940s, TDOT has kept a record of employees killed while working on roads.

“We’ve had 113 of our TDOT employees who have died in the line of duty, and obviously, that is 113 too many,” Nagi said.

Nagi encouraged drivers to be vigilant and careful when driving in a work zone and said it could save a life.

“We know that everybody is trying to get to and from their destinations as quickly as possible,” he said. “Certainly, we understand that. But traveling through a work zone, not only does it keep you safe and keep workers safe, but it’s also the law as well. So you’ve got to make sure that you are slowing down and concentrate 100% on your task. And that task is driving your vehicle through these areas safely.”  

TDOT construction projects will begin ramping up as the weather trends warmer. Nagi said long-term resurfacing projects are expected to begin in several areas and asked motorists to travel safely through them.