Safe Work Zones for All: Protect workers
This week, April 20-24, is National Work Zone Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Safe Work Zones for All: Protect workers. Protect road users.” Across the country, various agencies will work together to promote safe driving habits in work zones with an emphasis on reminding drivers that work zone safety awareness starts with those behind the wheel.
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has been home to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse website for over twenty years. Since its inception in 1998, the clearinghouse website has received over 2 million visits from users from 216 countries and areas in the world. The clearinghouse is a joint effort of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Federal Highway Administration and TTI.
TTI Research Librarian Hong Yu manages the website and the day-to-day operations of the clearinghouse, which is dedicated to providing the transportation construction industry and the general public with comprehensive information to improve motorist, worker and pedestrian safety in roadway work zones. The clearinghouse has become the world’s largest online library of free information on work zone crash data, safety standards, laws and regulations, news and research publications, best practices, public education campaigns, and latest technologies and equipment.
What Should You Do in a Work Zone?
- Slow down. Remember, traffic fines double in work zones.
- Be more attentive to your surroundings. Don’t talk or text in your phone.
- Plan ahead. If you know of a construction zone on your route, take a different one or leave your house early in case of delays.
Learn more about this year’s nationwide promotional efforts at the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse website.
“Our roadways need regular repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, so work zones are not going away.” says TTI Senior Research Engineer Jerry Ullman. “If everyone takes responsibility to protect themselves and workers when driving, we can make work zones safe for all.”
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