It’s
that time of the year again — construction season. The West Virginia Department
of Transportation kicked off its Work Zone Safety campaign Wednesday. It’s
aimed at reminding drivers how important it is to obey the rules of the road
when they come across those orange construction barrels or cones.
Mike
Clowser, the executive director of the Contractor’s Association of West
Virginia, stressed you must keep your eyes on the road, slow down and minimize
your distractions for the safety of workers and yourself.
“When
you’re out in open traffic all it take is a split second and it’s over,”
Clowser explained.
DOT
Spokesperson Brent Walker says the statistics are startling when you look at
work zone accidents.
“Over
the last three years there were 1,326 crashes in work zones. Two years ago we
had 6 deaths in work zones. Last year we had two. Yeah, it seems like it’s
going down but that’s two too many,” said Walker
Andy
Estep is an equipment supervisor who’s worked on road crews for more than 7
years. He said he’s seen his fair share of work zone accidents. When they
happen, he stressed, you only have a blink of an eye to react.
“You’re
not expecting it to happen but you’re always aware because it can happen. When
it does, your instincts just take off. You do what you have to do,” he
explained.
In 20
percent of work zone fatalities, construction workers are killed. However, the
other 80 percent result in the death of drivers.
Besides
being against the law, using a cell phone in a work zone is dangerous and it’s
just not worth it according to Clowser.
“There
is not a phone call or a message or text that you couldn’t wait one minute or
two minutes or five minutes or however long it takes to get through that
construction zone!”
First
Lt. Michael Baylous with the West Virginia State Police gave another incentive
to focus on the road in a construction zone.
“Yellow
and blue make green. When you see these yellow vests on these workers in these
work zones and you don’t slow your vehicle down then the next thing you may see
is the blue lights on our cruisers,” said Baylous. “When you see that, that’s
where the green comes in. It’s going to be the court costs and fines that come
with your irresponsible behavior.”
Construction
season is already underway and will continue through early fall.
