Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is unveiling a series of new eye-opening work zone safety public service announcements (PSAs) featuring real employees as part of the Department’s Slow Down, Phone Down campaign.

The advertisements are part of a concerted effort to provide a more direct, unfiltered approach to advancing work zone safety in Arkansas.

One PSA features testimony from ARDOT employee Terry Skaggs, who was severely injured in a work zone, and his wife, Sandra. Another features a first-hand account from ARDOT employee Robert Phillips, who witnessed a fellow crew member and friend’s death in a work zone.

A third gives law enforcement’s perspective, featuring an interview with Arkansas Highway Police Sergeant Shufford Day on the laws of work zones. Together, these videos provide a range of personal perspectives, all with the same message: safety for our road crews and the traveling public.

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“2026 will mark the fifth and final year of the Slow Down, Phone Down work zone safety campaign. We want to end this campaign in an impactful way,” ARDOT Director Jared D. Wiley said. “We’re always looking for new ways to innovate and improve safety for workers. You’ll see the Department adapt and make changes over the next year or two to be more direct in this area.”

According to state traffic data, there were 2,594 crashes and 84 fatalities or suspected serious injuries in Arkansas work zones in 2021. In 2024 (the most recent year for which finalized data is available), there were 1,648 crashes and 54 fatalities or suspected serious injuries in Arkansas work zones. This marks a 36 percent reduction overall in crashes, fatalities, and suspected serious injuries in Arkansas work zones since 2021.

Slow Down, Phone Down set the foundation for a movement that is only beginning – keeping safety top of mind while we strive to build a modern transportation system and enhance quality of life in Arkansas. 

To view the set of public service announcements, click here.

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