Monday, April 9th marks the start of Work Zone Awareness Week in Arizona in an effort to keep everyone safe in work zones across the state.
Last year, there was an average of 3.5 crashes in work zones every day in the state. In 2016, the Arizona Department of Transportation reported seven deadly crashes in work zones.
This week is designed at continuing to bring attention and awareness to work zone safety, not only for workers but drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
ADOT recommends the following when driving through work zones:
- Pay attention: Observe and obey posted warning signs, as well as flaggers. You can be cited for disobeying a flagger’s directions.
- Expect the unexpected: Speed limits might be lowered, travel lanes could be narrowed or eliminated and people may be working near your travel lane.
- Slow down: Speeding is one of the leading causes of work zone crashes.
- Merge safely: Do it early and carefully or as directed by signage instead of barging into a line of vehicles at the last moment.
- Don’t tailgate: The most common crash in a work zone is the rear-end collision. Don’t follow too closely and, again, slow your speed.
