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Work Zones
Changing conditions related to work zones can challenge even the safest drivers. Work zone safety is important to IDOT. We understand navigating work zones can be frustrating at times and we do our best to help protect your safety. Driving too fast or recklessly through a highway work zone is dangerous to your life, passengers and highway workers laboring to improve roadways and further ensure your safety while driving.
We are all responsible for work zone safety, so please use caution and obey speed limits when driving through our work zones. And, remember, using handheld phones is illegal when driving anywhere in Illinois. Help us help you get there safely.
View the expanded interactive Illinois roadway work zone map.
Work Zone Establishments
IDOT and local highway agencies work to maintain, operate, and expand the roadway system to provide the best travel for roadway users. This requires construction and maintenance on the system and the establishment of work zones periodically. The department has worked diligently to develop and implement traffic control standards that are consistent and can guide traffic through the work zone with the safety of the workers and the roadway users in mind. Unfortunately, distracted driving and speed continue to be the leading causes of work zone crashes and severe injury and fatal crashes in particular. These work zones do require more attention and slower speeds because of work crew exposure, changing conditions, potentially stopped traffic, and greater risk of being involved in a crash. We will continue to work with law enforcement and our industry safety partners to continue to improve upon work zones across the state and achieve zero fatalities and serious injuries in all work zones.
Awareness of Highway Workers and Emergency Personnel
See Orange, Slow Down, Save Lives
In order to carry out IDOT's commitment of zero fatalities, it is vital to keep our motorists and workers safe on Illinois roadways. Work zones can be complex for motorists to travel through and the unexpected can occur. IDOT urges and encourages motorists to pay attention to workers in construction and maintenance work zones during normal work, nighttime and off-peak hours. Continuing efforts are made every day by IDOT and other partner agencies to reduce the death toll of workers including IDOT staff, construction workers, and emergency personnel on Illinois roadways.
Scott's Law
Scott's Law, 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c), requires a motorist to slow down and change lanes if possible for emergency, construction and maintenance vehicles and workers. The law is named after a fire fighter who lost his life while responding to an accident on one of the expressways in the Chicago area.
A person charged with this offense can receive a fine for up to $10,000. They must appear in court, have driving privileges suspended, and in cases of property damage, injury and death of another person, additional penalties can apply such as involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide. If someone kills a person while operating a vehicle they can be charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide which could result in imprisonment from 3 to 14 years if convicted.