WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Here’s a reminder to be extra careful when driving past roadwork.

Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu signed a proclamation declaring this week as National Work Zone Awareness Week in Whatcom County.

The number of fatal crashes in Washington work zones doubled from 2022 to 2023, despite a decrease in the overall number of crashes.

WSDOT issued a warning earlier this month after dealing with eight crashes in work zones over the course of a week. No workers were injured in those crashes, though at least seven crew members with the department have been sent to the hospital this year as a result of suspected DUIs.

Whatcom County hasn’t had any fatal or serious accidents in work zones so far this year after seeing two last year, according to WSDOT’s collision data dashboard. That’s compared to 37 fatal or serious work zone crashes across the state in 2023.

King County is launching a pilot program that hopes to tackle texting and driving using new technology. King5 reports that the county is experimenting with four new “SmartSigns” that use infrared heat detection to recognize unsafe driving habits.

The signs can detect offenses like holding a phone in the driver’s seat, unbuckled seatbelts or speeding. Drivers caught by it will be alerted with a message on the digital sign, which also collects the data to help improve traffic safety. Drivers who aren’t breaking any rules will see their speed limit or a smiley face emoticon.

The signs don’t use cameras and will not issue any tickets or citations. The pilot program is expected to last until the end of July.

WSDOT said the leading causes of work zone crashes are following too closely, speeding and distracted driving.