MaineDOT’s “See Cones, Think People” Campaign Drives Work Zone Safety Awareness
Social media stories focus on individuals doing their jobs in active work zones.
AUGUSTA – April 23, 2026 – The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) and partner agencies are drawing strong public attention to work zone safety through its statewide social media campaign, “See Cones, Think People,” which highlights the real people working just feet from live traffic on Maine roads.
Launched during National Work Zone Awareness Week, the campaign centers on powerful, firsthand stories from crews and contractor employees. Through short videos and posts shared across multiple platforms, workers speak directly about what it means to do their jobs in active work zones—and what they hope drivers understand when they pass through.
The message is clear and personal: every cone marks someone’s workplace. Behind each one is a person with a family, a life, and a strong desire to return home safely at the end of the day.
Early response to the campaign has been strong, with partner agencies, municipalities, and community members amplifying the message by sharing content across their own networks. That engagement is helping shift the conversation from abstract safety messaging to a more immediate understanding of the human stakes in every work zone.
In addition to sharing these stories, the campaign encourages drivers to slow down, stay alert, and take the Maine Work Zone Safety Pledge—turning awareness into action.
As construction season ramps up, MaineDOT is urging all drivers to remember the people behind the cones. Every decision made behind the wheel in a work zone has real consequences—not just for traffic flow, but for the safety of the men and women working there.
See the individual stories featuring MaineDOT and partner agencies here: https://www.maine.gov/dot/pledge/videos