Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski was joined by
representatives of the Delaware State Police and Office of Highway Safety today
at the Route 1 and Route 16 grade separated interchange project to call
attention to the importance of safe driving in our work zones across the state.
National Work Zone
Awareness Week is held each April at the traditional start of construction season, when the number of workers on our nation’s roadways increases. The theme of this year’s work zone awareness campaign is “Work With Us.” The campaign features DelDOT workers who put their lives on the line daily as they work within active traffic maintaining Delaware roads.
“The safety of DelDOT employees and all those in active work zones is a top priority,” said Governor John Carney. “I recently joined a bipartisan group of legislators to announce a new package of legislation designed to increase safety on Delaware’s roads. These proposals include measures to help protect workers improving and repairing roads throughout the state.”
“There are dozens of active work zones across the state as we work to improve our transportation infrastructure,” said DelDOT Secretary Nicole Majeski. “Sadly, we have had 15 fatalities over the past three years involving vehicles in work zones and there have been close calls with employees that have resulted in injuries. Please work with us and slow down and drive attentively!”
Although highway workers are often among the victims of such
crashes, it's important for drivers to understand that four out of five victims
of work zone crashes are drivers or their passengers. In 2020, there were 857
fatalities nationwide in work zones. Generally, crashes occur when drivers
speed through a work zone or do not pay attention to the changing road conditions
and run into other vehicles, highway equipment or safety barriers, or drive off
the roadway completely. In a typical five-day work week, an average of seven
motorists and one worker are killed nationwide. The primary causes of work zone
crashes are following too closely and inattentive driving.
Senior Corporal Leonard DeMalto, Delaware State Police added, “Projects and construction such as the roadwork being done at Route 1 and 16 take a large amount of time and coordinated effort to successfully complete. These sites have employees working hard to make sure that their tasks are done to the best of their ability, and the best thing that we can do for these workers is to ensure that we drive safely and slowly through these construction sites. That means following all posted signs, not using our cell phones, and being on the lookout for traffic hazards.”
The National Work Zone Awareness Week began in 1999, when
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Traffic Safety Services
Association (ATSSA), and the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) signed a Memorandum of Agreement pledging to
increase public awareness of work zone safety issues through a national media
campaign. Since then, awareness has continued to grow, with state agencies and
other organizations sponsoring high-visibility education and outreach
initiatives.
Some simple tips for improving work zone safety include:
* When you see the “orange and black,” be extra cautious.
*
Warning signs will let you know what to expect.
*
Barrels or cones will delineate your path of travel.
*
Flag persons will help direct
you along the way.
*
Avoid distractions.
* Don’t tailgate.
* Don’t change lanes.
*
Slow down and expect the unexpected.
For complete Delaware work zone statistics check out the
Delaware Strategic Highway Safety Plan at: https://deldot.gov/Programs/DSHSP/index.shtml?dc=work_zone_safet
The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration has also developed a Work Zone Safety webpage highlighting the statistics for the frequency and severity work zone crashes:
FHWA Work Zone
Facts and Statistics - FHWA Office of Operations (dot.gov)
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