Roadside workers perform some of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Construction crews, utility workers, emergency responders, tow truck operators and maintenance personnel often work only a few feet away from fast-moving traffic. Despite warning signs, flashing lights and reduced-speed zones, roadside employees continue to suffer serious injuries and fatalities at alarming rates.
In recent years, lawmakers have increasingly acknowledged that roadside workers face unique dangers that deserve greater attention. One example is the proposed Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act (S. 4245), which reflects growing concern about the risks confronting people who work along highways and roadways every day.
What does this new bipartisan bill say?
Among other measures, the proposed legislation would direct states to improve how they track crashes involving roadside personnel. Rather than grouping these incidents with broader traffic accident statistics, states would be required to collect more detailed information specifically related to highway worker injuries and fatalities. This distinction could help policymakers better understand the dangers facing roadside workers and identify patterns that contribute to preventable accidents.
The proposal would also require states to take action when worker injury and fatality numbers increase. If safety data shows a troubling trend over two years, states would be obligated to develop and implement highway worker safety plans aimed at reducing future harm. In essence, the legislation recognizes that simply tracking accidents is not enough; meaningful safety improvements must follow when risks continue to rise.
The need for greater protection is clear. Roadside workers often face distracted drivers, speeding vehicles, impaired motorists and poor visibility conditions. A driver glancing at a phone for only a few seconds may drift into a work zone with devastating consequences. Even when workers follow safety protocols carefully, they remain vulnerable to the mistakes of others. And while workers’ compensation benefits can help an injured worker, in an ideal world, no one would need these benefits in the first place.