Ga. Marks Work Zone Awareness Week

The Georgia Department of Transportation is marking National Work Zone Awareness week this week.

As part of that, Georgia Department of Transportation officials, along with key state and federal safety partners, paid tribute on Tuesday to the 58 Georgia DOT employees who died in work zone incidents since record-keeping began in 1973.

Their primary message Tuesday focused on the rules for driving in work zones.

Those are to pay attention, slow down, and watch for workers.

Also, DOT officials said that drivers should expect the unexpected in work zones, avoiding speeding or tailgating, obey flaggers, and pay attention to signs.

The DOT also reminded motorists that work zones are not always stationary, noting that moving work zones that conduct maintenance activities like litter pickup, mowing, pavement marking, and sweeping may move slowly and stop intermittently.

Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said that the office for crews working on the roadways is a lane on the interstate or behind a disabled vehicle in the center lane during rush hour.

McMurry said they are all vulnerable to deserve to be safe while serving the public and the public’s help is needed to make that happen.

However, it is not just about the safety of workers in work zones.

The Georgia DOT noted that most victims in work zone crashes are in fact drivers or their passengers.

Figures from the agency state that in 2015, there were 27 work zone fatalities in Georgia, all members of the public.

Also, nationally in 2014, based on the latest available data, 82 percent of work zone fatalities were drivers or their passengers.