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This is National Work Zone Awareness Week, but area officials are emphasizing the need to pay attention to the safety of road crews year-round. April 15-19 is the official observance, and the many safety suggestions populating social media all point out that “work zones are temporary, but actions behind the wheel can last forever.”
According to the Wisconsin DOT, the state averages over 2,100 work zone crashes every year. In the last 5 years alone, 10,681 work zone crashes…that’s one every 4 hours…resulted in 3,801 injuries and 64 deaths. The leading causes of those mishaps were speeding, tailgating and distracted driving.
Drivers are being urged to stay alert in work zones, obey traffic signs, keep a safe distance between vehicles, and obey the state law passed 8 years ago that makes hand-held phone use in work zones illegal…concepts that are important not just during Work Zone Awareness Week, but all year long.
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