(VINCENNES) – With construction season in full swing, the Indiana Department of Transportation and transportation agencies around the country invite the motoring public to “Drive Like You Work Here.”
Today kicks off National Work Zone Safety Awareness week and this year’s theme is “Drive Like You Work Here.” In honor of this week, INDOT will be celebrating with several initiatives, integrating our various internal events with social media and traditional media.
Below is the schedule of events in the Southwest District for this year:
- Monday, April 8 – Pet Safety Selfie Day. Workers (and the general public) are asked to take and post selfies with their pets using #MakeSureMyHumanGetsHome.
- Tuesday, April 9 – Mock Work Zone Media Event. This event will be held at our Boyle Lane Unit at 16601 Boyle Lane in Evansville. The local and area media are invited to attend and participate from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (CST). Event will be moved inside in case of rain.
- Wednesday, April 10 – National Wear Orange Day. INDOT Staff and the motoring public are encouraged to take and post selfies of themselves wearing orange. Use the #DriveLikeYouWorkHere and feel free to tag INDOT Southwest.
- Thursday, April 11 – Social media feature about an INDOT employee injured in a work zone.
- Friday, April 12 – Live Q and A on Facebook and Twitter with some of our highway staff members from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST)
Based on the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) work zone fatalities increased two percent from 2016 to 2017. With the biggest portion of that being crashes involving bicycles or pedestrians. Additionally, worker fatalities were lower (down to 132 in 2017 from 143 in 2016), but fatal work zone crashes involving large truck or buses was up from 189 to 222 in 2017. Work zone crashes where speeding was a factor was up from 194 to 203 in 2017. Speed was also a contributing factor in 29 percent of fatal work zone crashes.
Please join INDOT and all of our highway workers as we bring awareness to work zone safety. And follow these safety tips for driving in work zones:
- Plan your route ahead of time using the INDOT Mobile app or INDOT.carsprogram.org.
- Obey traffic control devices – like signs, flaggers, cones and barriers.
- Slow down. Work zone speed limits are there to protect workers and motorists alike
- Move over when you see cars on the shoulder, when you’re able to.
- Avoid distractions like texting, playing with the radio, or eating.
- Watch for sudden stops. According to FARS, in 2017, 25 percent of fatal work zone crashes involved rear-end collisions.
- Watch for large vehicles. Don’t make sudden lane changes in front of big vehicles trying to slow down.
INDOT is excited to participate in National Work Zone Awareness week and we encourage the public to stay alert near crews and “Drive Like You Work Here.”
About NWZSAW
Since 2000, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and its partners have sponsored National Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. Work zones play a key role in maintaining and upgrading our Nation’s roadways. Unfortunately, daily changes in traffic patterns narrowed rights-of-way, and other construction activities often create a combination of factors resulting in crashes, injuries, and fatalities. These crashes also cause excessive delays, especially given the constrained driving environment. Each year, National Work Zone Awareness Week brings attention to these safety, mobility, and constructability issues. The key message is that, as a driver, you must use extra caution in work zones to keep yourself and others safe.
Stay Informed
Motorists can learn about highway work zones and other traffic alerts at indot.carsprogram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.
Subscribe to receive text and email alerts about INDOT projects at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/INDOT/subscriber/new.
Follow @INDOTSouthwest on Twitter and at Facebook.com/INDOTVincennesDistrict.
