As Work Zone Awareness Week Begins, road safety is more important than ever

First you see the warning signs, "Road Work Ahead."  Then the orange cones.  And then the orange vests of the crews who are grading, paving, and installing safety features on your road.  These men and women are working hard maintaining, repairing, and upgrading America's highways in all kinds of weather; they deserve our respect and courtesy.

And the best way to show them our respect is to drive safely when traveling through their work zones.

Yesterday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez kicked off the 12th annual National Work Zone Awareness Week, which runs through this Friday.  As spring rolls in and the highway construction season ramps up, this special week is observed across the country by state, local and federal transportation officials.  I thank them for their efforts, and I hope everyone gets their important message. 

Last Friday, I announced that in 2010 the number of traffic fatalities in America fell to their lowest levels since 1949.  But we still have more than 30,000 people dying on our nation’s roads each year.  We will keep working to push that number down, and that includes the number of deaths in our work zones.

Our safety record in work zones continues to improve--work zone fatalities have fallen for seven straight years.  But that still means 667 people were killed in work zones in 2009.  And of that 667, 85 percent were motorists or their passengers, and 15 percent were people working on a project. 

Let me repeat that--more than four out of every five victims in a work zone crash are drivers or passengers, which is why it is particularly important for drivers to remain alert while driving through these zones.

The professionals of our Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are involved in a number of partnerships and programs to make work zones safer for everyone through engineering, education and training.  They work with state and local governments and the transportation community to train people in how to set up work zones, manage traffic flow and use new technology.  FHWA has also made an additional $4.6 million investment in the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, a comprehensive online information source to improve work zone safety.

But America's drivers can make the biggest difference.  Road workers are doing their part to build and improve the roads and bridges we all depend on, so please, let’s keep them safe by driving carefully.

Comments

[Debbie Ruth]

Great article should have posted the laws that go along with Men working, as speed limits, fines doubled

[James Baron]

I thank Administrator Victor Mendez and the entire FHWA for their continued support in advancing safety in our nation's roadways.

[Deborah Wright]

Although I am thankful for the work done by the FHWA in improving safety conditions in some areas, one area that seems never to be addressed appropriately is one of enforcement in regard to flagger training. States make rules and regs that reflect FHWA standards but while some states make requirements neighboring states make recommendations. Standards set are glossed over, as paperwork passes for training that does nothing to verify actual training. In addition, many states have no policies/laws in place to enforce usage of properly trained flaggers. Companies who hire flaggers have no way to verify that the flagging companies are endorsed by DOT departments and cannot get permits without using properly trained flaggers. This disconnect continues to create unsafe work zones in the construction/utilities industry.

[Nathan]

Good article, but wish there was more exposure out there like this. http://www.viewbritesafetyproducts.com

[Lucinda Poahway]

My husband was killed in a work zone, not in Oklahoma. But it was devestating for his family, co workers, friends, my heart is broken still. Everytime I went thru a work zone in Oklahoma I could see the measures they took to protect their workers out on the highways, this isn't so in all states. So,I am "contented" to see that the DOT will be observing a National Work Zone safety week. Alot of things have changed since his death. But many things could have been done to prevent it, not only by his company but by the citizens. He was killed by a drunk driver while he was working in a construction zone. All that kept his safety was an orange cone and in the reconstruction photos, they were scattered everywhere. I don't think too many people would feel "safe" to be standing near cars that are traveling 40-60 mph and just have "cones" there to protect your safety. One day I believe they will discover something that will protect these workers without interference with the flow of traffic. But for now, public awareness is all we have and orange cones is all they have to continue living. So yes, it is a wonderful thing. At least it may save someones life.