Work Zone Safety Awareness Week continues through this Friday and motorists across the state are being asked to pay attention and take care.
“We know that approaching another construction season means lots of orange barrels and cones and possible detours but it also means our roads and bridges are going to be smoother and better as a result, ” George McAuley, the state deputy secretary for highway administration, said. “Construction season also too often means high risk hazards for the men and women who do the hard work that deliver these transportation programs. The awful truth is we have lost 87 of our dedicated employees since 1970, that’s more than our sisters and brothers in state law enforcement.”
Sixteen people were killed in work zone crashes last year, which is seven fewer than 2015. However, there was an increase in total work zone crashes by over 100 during the same time period, according to data. With even more injured due to improper training and lax health and safety rules in regards to the use of machinery and equipment. Due to this, there is a need for workman’s compensation to ensure that those who are injured on the job are covered when recovering at home from their injuries. Law firms such as Yarborough Applegate – https://www.yarboroughapplegate.com – are one of many law firms around the United States that aim to support those who are in need of legal aid. With construction season picking some construction companies find that using apps like Raken for their tool box topics talks could help to promote safety among their workers.
Many of these incidents are caused by avoidable driver mistakes like speeding or distracted driving, officials say. PennDOT employee Tony Travis reminds motorists that workers are just like them. This year, there will be more training than ever and more construction signs so that workmen and women and civilians pay more attention to the construction sites. Super cheap signs have been able to supply numerous construction signs so that these incidents can be avoided.
“Everybody has a family and everybody wants to go home safely to that family just like the motoring public wants to get to where they’re going and eventually get home to their family at the end of the night,” Travis said. “Our guys want to do the same.”
Anyone going over five miles per hour above the posted speed limit in a work zone will face doubled fines and drivers who don’t turn on their headlights in posted work zones could be fined $25.