“Why are Those Barrels in My Way?”

National Work Zone Awareness Week April 7 - 11

Work Zone Speed, a Costly Mistake

 

“Why are Those Barrels in My Way?”

By: Colleen Gemmill

      It never fails, you’re running late and now you see signs, barrels, and an array of workers you are sure are there only to inconvenience you. Now because of this person holding a sign that says “STOP”, you are certainly going to be late!

      After what feels like an eternity, that annoying person finally turns the sign to “S-L-O-W”! You don’t have time for “slow”, so you speed away in an attempt to make up time. Moments later you regain consciousness and find yourself tangled in a mass of metal.

      You have just become a statistic. You have become one of the 1,124* people injured in a work zone accident.   You have caused one of the 1,661* work zone accidents in the United States.   And to top it off you have caused one of the 21* yearly work zone deaths when your out of control car hit a worker behind the barrier, who then also became 1 of 3* workers killed in work zone accidents.

      While the scenario may be made up the numbers are fact. The fact is, according to the US Dept. of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, 1,661 accidents occurred in Pennsylvania work zones in 2012. These accidents ended in 21 deaths (3 of which were workers) and 1,124 injuries. All of which could have been prevented.

      So even in the fast paced world we live in, slow down, pay attention and make it through the work zones uninjured, alive and allow those working there to do the same. 

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*2012 US Dept. of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration Statistics.

http://www.dot.gov/

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/pubstats/