National Work Zone Awareness Week
ILLINOIS (KBSI) –Spring is here and we’ve been getting some beautiful weather. Along with beautiful weather comes road work and construction.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is encouraging everyone to raise awareness during National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Kirk Brown is the Regional Engineer for IDOT and he talks about why this topic is so important.
” So were asking our public to help pay more attention and to partner with us to help make zero fatalities a reality. That is the departments’ goal, we ask that it be yours too.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics an average of 54 workers die a year in work zones.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is raising awareness to lower these numbers.
“Part of that is making sure that you are doing everything you can to help pay attention when you’re in a work zone. We want you to arrive to your destination safely and help us so that none of our workers are impacted as well,” says Brown.
IDOT says when your in a work zone electronics should be down at all times. Jim Hobbie is a construction director, and he says one of the main issues they see is distracted drivers on electronics.
“Ya the cell phones because you would not believe, you got your play list, your GPS, your text message and everything and everybody communicates with it in many different fashions and people pay by large too much attention to the cell phone.”
Its illegal in Illinois and most other states to use a cellphone while going through a work zone. In Illinois you can receive a ticket for up to 125$ dollars.
Hobbie says distracted driving in general is also an issue.
“My boss this morning we were talking and on his way in he saw a lady driving down the road doing her makeup unfortunately I guess the biggest issue or hazard we have is the high speed that we live our lives.”
The following guidelines for traveling through work zones from IDOT:
- Drop it and drive. Phones and electronic devices down at all times – it’s the law.
- Obey the signs. They will help you safely navigate work zones – and sometimes avoid delays.
- Slow down. The posted speed limits are there for the safety of workers and you.
- Be on the lookout for slowed or stopped traffic.
- Consider the limitations of heavy equipment, trucks and commercial vehicles. Provide them extra distance to come to a complete stop if they are behind you.
For an updated list of Illinois road work projects
