How It Works

Work Zone Safe is designed to humanize highway safety. The program connects teen drivers with the personal stories of workers, first responders, and families whose lives have been forever changed by preventable crashes. Through powerful videos, interactive lessons, and real-world scenarios, young drivers learn that work zones aren’t just traffic inconveniences—they’re workplaces filled with faces and families who deserve to get home safely.

In addition to the online course, teens take part in hands- on learning experiences, walking through mock work zones guided by transportation professionals. Many sit inside heavy equipment to understand blind spots, are guided through flagging operations, and meet the families of workers who never made it home. These firsthand experiences help teens connect emotionally—and permanently—to the responsibility that comes with driving through a work zone.

ARTBA’s Involvement

In November, ARTBA announced it is joining forces with Work Zone Safe to expand the program’s footprint and bring its message to more young people across the country. Through a major financial gift from the ARTBA Foundation, and in partnership with the association’s state contractor chapter affiliates, the partnership aims to:

• Encourage adoption of program requirements in other states.
• Expand hands-on training opportunities for state transportation agencies to deliver their own “Faces Behind the Flag” safety training.
• Bring the “Faces Behind the Flag” opportunity to community events.
• Recognize and reward teen drivers nationwide who show a commitment to safe driving in work zones.