If every day you went to work the safety of your coworkers and yourself was in the hands of drivers, you’d be very certain that drivers were aware of the laws around construction zones and would make sure those laws were enforced. Unfortunately, there is only so much manpower on the roads, and some drivers don’t consider the consequences of their actions.
That’s why the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation has focused on delivering a message of safety to the public; road workers are present on the highways more and more during the spring and summer, and that could mean more accidents, injuries and fatalities. He’s hoping that won’t be the case if drivers are simply more aware of the laws and how to keep these workers safe.
In 2015, there were 4,315 work-zone crashes with 2,475 people injured. Over half of those accidents were caused by drivers who were speeding in the construction zone. Interestingly, it’s usually motorists who are killed in these accidents, with four out of five people dying being motorists themselves. That’s why it’s in their best interests to play it safe in these construction zones.
There are over 600 major construction projects taking place across the state, so keeping drivers and workers safe is key to a successful construction season. Workers wear orange vests and use barrels to block off these construction areas, but they also want more federal money for safety barriers. However, even with those barriers, it’s only common sense that can save these workers; drivers need to mind the road and workers who are present.
Source: Greensboro.com, “DOT official: Safety of road workers in the hands of drivers (Videos),” Richard M. Barron, May 25, 2016
