Learn all about National Work Zone Awareness Week, find out this year’s theme, and explore ways to recognize the importance of safe driving practices all year long.
What is National Work Zone Awareness Week?
National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual event established to better educate the public about safe practices for driving through and around work zones. The goal of NWZAW is to help people recognize the dangers both construction workers and drivers—as well as their passengers—face, and to prevent injuries and fatalities through outreach and education.
The first NWZAW took place in 2000, launched by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Now, every spring, VDOT partners with DOTs in other states as well as other government agencies, private organizations, and industry professionals across the county to create educational materials, provide training, and review guidelines as a part of National Work Zone Awareness Week.
When is National Work Zone Awareness Week?
This year, National Work Zone Awareness Week takes place from April 21-25, 2025.
The 2025 NWZAW theme is "Respect the zone so we all get home". It’s being hosted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
2025 National Work Zone Awareness Week events
There are several events taking place throughout this year’s NWZAW:
April 21 - Work Zone Safety Training Day: Construction companies are encouraged to pause the day's work momentarily for a safety demonstration, toolbox talk, or hazard recognition training.
April 22 - National kickoff event: NCDOT will officially launch NWZAW 2025 with a public ceremony.
April 23 - Go Orange Day: Roadside safety professionals and others who want to support them should wear orange clothing today to promote awareness.
April 24 - Social media storm: Use the hashtags #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety on your social media accounts between 9 AM to 4 PM ET.
April 25 - Moment of Silence: At 10 AM ET, observe a moment of silence to honor all the lives that have been lost in work zone accidents.
Many organizations are also hosting their own events locally. Check out a full list of opportunities to participate on the official NWZAW website.
What is Go Orange Day?
Go Orange Day is celebrated every year as a part of National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Participants wear bright orange clothing and use the hashtag #Orange4Safety to share photos to social media to help spread awareness for work zone safety. You can take part as an individual, organization, or business.
When is Go Orange Day?
Go Orange Day is Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
5 Ways to Celebrate National Work Zone Awareness Week
Whether you work in construction, know someone who has been affected by a work zone accident, or you’re simply interested in supporting the cause, there are several ways you can observe National Work Zone Awareness Week at your business.
Use the official NWZAW hashtags
There are two official hashtags you can use to help promote National Work Zone Awareness Week on social media. They are:
#NWZAW
#WorkZoneSafety
While the official social media storm—a time dedicated to posting content with these hashtags in order to maximize their visibility—takes place on Thursday, April 24, you can also use them across your business’s accounts each day of NWZAW, and even throughout the entire month, if you’d like to share facts, safety tips, or information about the purpose of the week with your followers.
You can also share these hashtags with your employees and invite them to create their own content or reshare your posts on their personal socials. If you have the resources, you may incentivize them by offering a gift card or another prize to the employee who shares the most posts or generates the most likes or comments.
Using NWZAW’s official hashtags is an easy way to show your support.
Take Go Orange Day to the next level
Another easy way to celebrate National Work Zone Awareness Week is to wear bright orange clothing on Go Orange Day and share photos of yourself on social media with the hashtag #Orange4Safety.
If you’re hoping to take things a step further, however, it can take some additional planning. Here are some ideas:
Provide orange clothing items for your workers who want to participate and organize a group photo
Order custom orange buttons, stickers, magnets, t-shirts, or other items that include the Go Orange Day branding and hashtag
Use orange decorations or lighting around your office
Create posters and informational materials
Invite your customers, local community, and social media followers to join in and post their own photos
The more effort you put in to Go Orange Day, the more likely you’ll have a bigger impact. Take a look at photos from past Go Orange Days for inspiration.
Provide free safety training
While safety should always be a priority, NWZAW is a great time to offer free training to your employees that goes beyond the basics. Whether you schedule a dedicated course on recognizing work zone hazards for the official Work Zone Safety Training Day on April 21 or you provide different training opportunities throughout the week, building time into the schedule for education will help show your workers you’re serious about safety.
If you’re looking for a way to get employees more involved, ask for their input in advance before deciding what training to offer. Are there any common safety concerns? Do they have questions about what to do in a specific hazardous situation on the jobsite? Try to plan training around their needs and interests, rather than choosing a topic based on what’s most convenient.
Use NWZAW resources
If your business is on the smaller side, you may not have an internal team that can help plan your own events or produce your own content for social media. Luckily, NWZAW’s website provides plenty of free resources.
Download logos, posters, graphics, and more to print or share on social media. There’s even a background for Zoom so you can effortlessly promote awareness during your virtual meetings.
With these resources, even businesses with little time or personnel to spare can participate in NWZAW.
Host your own event
National Work Zone Awareness Week doesn’t belong to a single organization, it’s a collaboration between industry professionals and their supporters across the country. If you’re passionate about safety, consider hosting your own event for your local community.
There are many different types of events you can organize. For example:
Offer a free Work Zone safety training course to the public that covers how to safely travel through a work zone and avoid distractions
Host a Go Orange Day picnic with a DJ, raffles, and food
Organize a 5K race or walk-a-thon for awareness
Read NWZAW’s free guides for event planning and event promotion for more ideas.
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