ST. PAUL, Minn. – The
Minnesota Department of Transportation will observe National Work Zone
Awareness Week April 3-7 to encourage safe driving through highway work
zones.
The
week is an annual spring campaign to coincide with the start of road
construction season. MnDOT will officially kick off the construction
season April 13, although many construction projects are already under
way.
Theme for the week is “Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands,” reinforcing the message that motorists constantly should be alert and prepared for unexpected changes in and around work zones.
More
than 200 active work zones are scheduled throughout the state this
construction season. A work zone is defined as any area where highway
construction, maintenance or utility work is being done. Work zones are
identified by warning signs, signals, barriers, pavement markings and
flaggers.
Each year in Minnesota, an average of seven people die in work zone crashes and 753 fatal or serious injury crashes occur.
“Drivers
and passengers are more likely to be killed in work zones than workers,
but maintenance and construction crew workers have also lost their
lives, been injured or had close calls,” said Jay Hietpas, Office of
Traffic, Safety and Technology director. “Rear-end crashes are the most
common type of work zone crash. Most of these crashes occur because of
driver inattention and speeding, both behaviors we can change.”
Hietpas
said MnDOT works to alert motorists in work zones and sets speeds that
are safe for navigating through it. He said when entering work zones,
motorists should obey the posted speed limits, pay attention to signs
and flaggers, be patient and not drive distracted.
“These
work zones exist because we’re making roads better and safer. We’re
asking that people look for the work zones, slow down and put down their
cellphones and other distractions,” Hietpas said. “The 511mn.org
website is a good resource to check for road closures, detours and
traffic incidents.”
