Work Zone Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility
Annual Work Zone Safety Awareness campaign encourages safe driving through work zones
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 and 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 an INDOT work zone crash, up from 13 fatalities in 2016. 80 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, 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 distracts behind the wheel.
Plan ahead. Expect delays during construction season and allow extra travel time, or select an alternate route.
Stay informed
Follow @INDOTEast on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Subscribe to receive text and email alerts about INDOT projects and services at alerts.indot.in.gov.
Learn about highway work zones and other traffic alerts at indot.carsprogram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.
About Next Level Roads
“In Indiana, the Crossroads of America is more than a motto; it’s our mission.” – Governor Eric Holcomb
Next Level Roads is Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s initiative to elevate Indiana’s economic competitiveness and quality of life for all Hoosiers through investment in transportation infrastructure. This sustainable, data-driven plan dedicates more than $30 billion over the next 20 years to improving the conditions of existing roads and bridges – both state and local, finishing major projects, and building for the future. Next Level Roads is enhancing Indiana’s position as a leader in freight and logistics and empowering cities, towns and counties to build communities that attract jobs and talent. Learn more about Next Level Roads at in.gov/indot.
About the Indiana Department of Transportation
INDOT empowers businesses to deliver Indiana to the world and bring the world to Indiana by providing a transportation network that is second to none. The agency builds and maintains more than 28,000 lane miles of highway and 5,600 bridges, and provides oversight for 117 public aviation facilities and more than 4,000 miles of active rail lines. Indiana ranked as the #1 state in the U.S. for infrastructure in CNBC’s 2016 “Top States for Business” ranking.
Customer Service: 1-855-463-6848 www.indot4u.com indot@indot.IN.gov
