Governor Eric Holcomb has proclaimed April 9-13 as Work Zone Safety Awareness Week across Indiana. This year’s National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week theme is “Work Zone Safety: Everyone’s Responsibility.” The Indiana Department of Transportation, in coordination with Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Labor, other state agencies and industry partners, intend to raise motorists’ awareness about personal responsibility in work zones or face the consequences of dangerous driving behaviors.
This year, motorists will encounter more work zones in Indiana than in previous years as INDOT along with cities, towns and counties across Indiana begin implementing ramped up road construction programs as part of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Roads plan. As the state and local communities make record-setting investments in road construction, it is vital that motorists use safe driving habits when traveling through work zones.
Last year, at least 20 people were killed in INDOT work zone crashes, up from 13 fatalities in 2016. Eighty percent of those killed in a work zone are motorists or their passengers.
INDOT’s goal is to improve safety, reduce crashes and injuries and bring the number of fatalities to zero in these future work zones. Safety requires participation from everyone to make all highway work zones as safe as possible.
Here’s how drivers can take personal responsibility in assisting with keeping work zones safe:
- Stay alert! Look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.
- Pay attention. Work zone signs will tell drivers exactly what to expect ahead.
- Merge early. If drivers merge as soon as they see signs, traffic will flow much more smoothly.
- Slow down! Don’t speed, as there could be slowed or stopped vehicles in the construction zone.
- Keep your distance. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of the vehicles.
- Minimize distractions. Eliminate all distractions behind the wheel.
- Plan ahead. Expect delays during construction season and allow extra travel time, or select an alternate route.