Senators Introduce Legislation to Protect those Working along Roadsides

Safety at Work

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) - From first responders to construction workers, those working alongside major roads face numerous dangers on the job.

But new bipartisan legislation from U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-Nev.) would protect first responders and other workers as they do their jobs roadside. Their bill, the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act, would enhance strategies to help reduce the risks workers who do their jobs on the side of the road face – from law enforcement officers to emergency medical services, fire and rescue services, tow truck drivers, construction workers and others who work on the roadside.

“Every day in Pennsylvania and across the country, law enforcement officers, EMS crews, and roadside workers put themselves in harm’s way—often just feet from speeding traffic—to keep the rest of us safe,” McCormick said. “This bipartisan effort will improve data collection, strengthen public awareness, and prioritize safety in infrastructure projects from the start—helping protect those who protect us.”

According to data analyzed by AutoInsurance.com, more than 560 roadside workers have been killed doing their jobs since 2020. Looking at data from OSHA, the website found that an estimated 564 workers have been struck and killed by cars. In the first four months of 2025, 10 first responders were hit and killed by cars across the country.

The analysis found that the top three situations in which first responders were hit and killed were 1) responding to a disabled vehicle, 2) responding to a crash scene, or 3) directing traffic.

“Work zones are dangerous for drivers and workers. Fatal car crashes occurring near road construction zones sharply spiked by 63 percent from 2010 to 2021. Although the number of workers killed by vehicle strikes increased slightly from 2023 to 2024, the overall percentage stayed mostly consistent year over year, at about eight percent of all workplace fatalities tracked by OSHA,” the website said.

Additionally, 58 percent of contractors felt that the risk of highway work zone crashes have increased year over year, a trend they attribute to the use of cell phones by drivers. In 2024, about 1 in 20 workplace fatalities tracked by OSHA was due to vehicle strikes.

McCormick said data from his state showed how that data plays out at the state level. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation found that more than 1,250 work zone crashes occurred in 2024, resulting in 22 deaths that included both workers and drivers. Additionally, 45 percent of Pennsylvania work zone crashes in 2024 contained fatalities or injuries.

In Pennsylvania, motorists can face increased punishment for speeding work zones. Those driving 11 miles per hour above the posted speed limit in active work zones will automatically lose their license for 15 days per state law. Fines for certain traffic violations, including speeding, driving under the influence and failure to obey traffic devices are doubled for active work zones. Drivers can also receive up to 5 years of additional jail time if they kill someone in a work zone crash and are convicted of homicide by vehicle.

To combat the crisis on a federal level, McCormick and Cortez Mastro’s legislation would require states to improve data collection and analysis of highway worker injuries and fatalities; to create a new public awareness campaign to reflect the dangers roadside workers face, and to require grant applications for major infrastructure projects to include protections expected to aid roadside workers and the driving public.

“Over the past fifty years, America has worked to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians, but we still have work to do to protect those whose jobs regularly put them on the side of the road,” Cortez Masto said. “First responders and roadside workers risk death or injury every single day while responding to an emergency or maintaining our roads. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to help keep them safe.”

The legislation is supported by the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA), the Association of General Contractors, the National Safety Council, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the National Association of State EMS Officials, the National Waste and Recycling Association, American Traffic Safety Services, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition.

“Towing and recovery professionals put their lives on the line every day to help motorists, protect first responders, and keep commerce flowing,” TRAA Executive Director Bruce Bender said. “Despite the fact that, on average, statistics show we lose a tower every seven days, the risk to the lives of these dedicated professionals is often overlooked. Slow Down, Move Over laws need to be promoted and publicized because they are proven to save lives.”

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