RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will observe its seventh annual Work Zone Awareness Week, April 4-10, by encouraging motorists to pay attention and drive safely through highway work zones. VDOT’s goal is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities in highway work zones, especially among young, inexperienced drivers.

“There is nothing as important as the safety of the traveling public and the safety of our crews,” said VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet. “It is just as important for motorists traveling through a work zone to practice safety as it is for those employees working in that zone.”

In Virginia in 2003, preliminary reports show that 16 people died and 265 people were injured in 483 highway work zone crashes. While the number of people injured decreased from 2002 when 376 people were injured and the number of crashes decreased from 663, the number of fatalities increased from seven in 2002. Although highway construction remains one of the most dangerous jobs in America, national statistics show that four out of every five persons killed in work zone crashes are motorists – drivers and their passengers.

Young drivers are particularly at risk of having a crash in a work zone due to their inexperience with different driving conditions. To help students understand the consequences of not driving safely through work zones, VDOT’s and road-building contractors’ employees are making presentations in schools around the state throughout the school year. The classroom and assembly sessions include personal accounts of seeing co-workers killed or injured in work zone crashes or of having too-close encounters with motorists. The state and industry transportation groups each have committed to reaching at least 10,000 students this year.

VDOT also developed the “Work Zone Safety Teachers’ Guide” and the “Stay in the Picture” safety information kit. The kit, designed to fit in a car glove box, is distributed through presentations and Drivers Education classes throughout Virginia.

“Adventures in Driving: Survive the Ride,” a booklet to help teens transition from passengers to safe drivers, along with the teachers’ guide, are available in .pdf format on VDOT’s Web site, VirginiaDOT.org.

VDOT will join the nation on Tues. April 6, in recognizing the fifth annual National Work Zone Awareness Week, which was inspired by VDOT's annual campaign. The national effort’s theme is “The people who build our highways work where you drive.” It will feature an event on April 6 in the Springfield Interchange Improvement Project. Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters will address the media in an office setting adjacent to the project work zone as she asks that motorists visualize themselves in highway workers’ workplaces. VDOT Commissioner Shucet will participate in the event. David Hamm, a colleague of James Cameron, a VDOT worker killed in an Alexandria-area work zone last May, will also speak at the event.

While work zones can be found year-round, the work zone awareness efforts traditionally are held during the week after Daylight Savings Time begins. This generally marks when highway projects gear up for the construction season.

VDOT urges motorists of all ages to drive safely in highway work zones by following these safety tips:
· Expect the unexpected—a work zone can change overnight
· Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and those traveling around you
· Leave plenty of space between vehicles
· Obey posted speed limits
· Avoid changing lanes in a work zone
· Minimize distractions, such as changing radio stations or using a cell phone
· Watch for flaggers and follow their directions
· Stay alert
· Be patient—highway workers are improving roads for your benefit

Motorists can check road conditions or report work zone or other road problems at any time by calling VDOT’s Highway Helpline 1-800-367-ROAD (7623), (TTY users call 1-800-432-1843) or by going to VDOT’s Web site at VirginiaDOT.org.

Page last modified: April 2, 2004