Cooke County —
The Texas Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and other related organizations will observe National Work Zone Awareness Week April 4-8.
A press release said the week is a memoriam for auto accident victims and raises awareness about safety precautions for workers and motorists in work zones.
Work zones can be dangerous for both drivers and highway crews working to improve Texas highways. But TxDOT reports a 35 percent decrease in work zone fatalities in 2009 from the previous year because of increased safety measures and public outreach efforts.
While work zone fatalities and crashes have declined, more can be done. In 2009, 108 people were killed in highway construction and maintenance zones in Texas.
“One work zone fatality is one too many,” said Fred Underwood, Texas Transportation Commissioner. “We are continuing our efforts to educate motorists on the dangers of speed and distracted driving in work zones. Each of us has the power to protect lives as we drive. We just need to put our cell phones down, stop adjusting the radio and focus on driving safely.”
The release said TxDOT maintains approximately 80,000 miles of highway and has more than 1,000 construction or maintenance projects underway at any given time. With all this construction, drivers frequently encounter work zones.
The release cited some statistics:
• In 2009, there were 3,871 distracted driver crashes in work zones, involving 7,837 vehicles. These distracted driver crashes resulted in 27 fatalities.
• In 2009, 66 percent of work zone fatalities were male.
• Forty-six percent of all work zone fatalities for 2009 were 35 years old or younger.
• Four out of every five work zone fatalities are motorists traveling through the work zone.
• One in three work zone crashes is a rear-end collision.
• Of the 108 work zone fatalities in 2009, 40 were drug and alcohol-related.
Underwood said everyone should take responsibility for work zone safety — from engineers and planners to drivers and pedestrians.
For more information about work zone safety, visit www.txdot.gov or call call (512) 463-8700.
SUE CHALMERS GORDON
Local News
TxDOT notes work zone awareness week
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