|
 |
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Contact: Brian Keeter, 202-366-0660
FHWA 3-04
Drivers Urged To Make Highway Work Zones Safer
FHWA Administrator Sets up Office in Middle of Busy Interchange
In Effort to Reduce Work Zone Injuries, Fatalities
The nation’s chief highway official, likening roads to “offices” of highway
workers, today set up her office in the middle of a busy interstate interchange
to demonstrate the danger to drivers, passengers and workers from unsafe driving
habits in highway work zones.
Work zone fatalities increased nationwide 53 percent from 1998 to 2002,
according to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data. Four out of five people
killed were either drivers or passengers.
FHWA Administrator Mary Peters said a combination of government safety programs
and safe-driving habits can significantly reduce the more than 52,000 injuries
and fatalities that occur each year in highway work zones.
“Work zone accidents pose tremendous costs to our society,” Peters said. “The
human cost is the most tragic and the most critical. But there’s also the
economic cost that results from congestion, unexpected delays and delayed
freight deliveries. Making work zones safer is part of the commitment by
President Bush and Secretary Mineta to keep the American economy moving.”
Peters kicked off Work Zone Awareness Week from her “outside” office near
Interstate 95 in Springfield, Va., an area commonly referred to as the “mixing
bowl” because of recent massive construction of the interchange.
“Safety is not a spectator sport,” said Peters. “While government can and is
doing a lot to make work zones safer, our highway crews need you to slow down
and take simple but practical precautions. Drivers should remember that they and
their passengers are also in danger from carelessness in work zones.”
"I would like to ask motorists to please think twice before speeding through a
work zone,” said David Hamm, an employee with the Virginia Department of
Transportation who witnessed a fatal work zone accident. “Think how you would
feel if you lost someone close to you.”
Peters offered 10 tips for driving safely in work zones including: expect the
unexpected; slow down; don’t tailgate; keep a safe distance between you and the
car ahead of you; pay attention to the signs; obey road crew flaggers; stay
alert and minimize distractions; keep up with traffic flow; schedule enough time
to drive safely and check radio, TV and Web sites for traffic information; and
be patient and stay calm.
The FHWA is working to improve work zone safety and mobility in partnership with
industry, transportation associations and state departments of transportation.
Peters said work zone safety solutions include more durable pavements, defensive
work zones to protect workers and real-time information to travelers to plan
alternative routes.
Work Zone Awareness Week is designed to bring attention to the problem of work
zone safety and mobility. The kick-off event is co-sponsored by the FHWA, the
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the
American Traffic Safety Services Association, with the cooperation of the
American Road and Transportation Builders Association and the Associated General
Contractors.
--end--