According to PennDOT, March 23-27 is National Work Zone Awareness Week. This is perfect timing, as the weather gets warmer and “construction season” begins. PennDOT and various traffic control companies are asking motorists to remember the laws when driving through a construction zone, and to be mindful that there are people at work behind those cones.

These messages are reiterated in PennDOT’s new #Slow4Zone social media campaign. “Work on our roadways is essential to keep people and commerce flowing, but drivers need to remember that it isn’t just equipment that they see in work zones – there are people,” Acting Secretary Richards said. “Work zones may be a temporary inconvenience, but these workers deserve our full attention and safest driving.”

The Facts

PennDOT data shows that 24 people were killed in work zone crashes last year, an increase of 8 people from 2013. All in all, there were 1,841 work zone crashes. Since 1970, 85 PennDOT employees have been killed on duty.

PennDOT also monitors work zones for intrusions. Last year, there were 131 work zone intrusions, 92 of which caused injury to employees or damage to equipment. Already in 2015, there have been seven work zone intrusions and one resulting in employee injury.

It’s also important to remember that there are serious penalties for not observing safety regulations when driving past a work zone. For example, driving 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit in a work zone could mean a suspended license for 15 days.

For more information, read the full press release here.

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