Wolf Administration, PennDOT, Pa. Turnpike Commission, Association of Pennsylvania Constructors Promote Work Zone Safety, Host Statewide Workers’ Memorial

Wolf Administration, PennDOT, Pa. Turnpike Commission, Association of
Pennsylvania Constructors Promote Work Zone Safety, Host Statewide Workers'
Memorial

4/3/2017-HARRISBURG

The Wolf Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
(PennDOT), the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Association of
Pennsylvania Constructors today gathered to kick off Work Zone Safety
Awareness
Week – which runs through April 7 and honor lives lost – by hosting
PennDOT's
statewide Workers' Memorial in Harrisburg.

"Work zone safety continues to be a top priority of the department,"
PennDOT
Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. "We all hope to help change driver
behavior
and raise awareness so all of us, highway workers and motorists alike, get
home
safely every day."

Preliminary PennDOT data shows that 16 people were killed in work-zone
crashes
in 2016, seven fewer than in 2015. Additionally, there were 2,075 crashes
in
work zones last year, an increase from 1,935 crashes in 2015. Over the last

five years, there was an average of 1,872 crashes and more than 20
fatalities
in work zones.

In addition to crash data from police reports, PennDOT monitors work-zone
safety with internal reports. In 2016, there were 102 intrusions in PennDOT

work zones. Of those work-zone intrusions, 16 resulted in injures to
PennDOT
employees, 39 caused damage to PennDOT fleet or equipment, and 55 did not
result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so.

As of March 27 this year, there have been nine work-zone intrusions, with
zero
resulting in employee injury, four causing damage to vehicles or equipment
and
five causing no damage or injuries.

Over the years, more than 30 PA Turnpike workers have died on the job, and
many
of these tragedies were caused by driver mistakes like speeding or
distraction.

"The winter is hopefully behind us, so PA Turnpike maintenance forces are
resuming standard operations this week, focusing on upkeep tasks that make
the
road safer for customers," said PA Turnpike Chief Operating Officer Craig
Shuey. "So, we urge drivers to be on the lookout for orange cones and
yellow
vests, and we remind drivers that state police will be on the lookout for
work-zone speeders."

Shuey said highway maintenance and construction workers aren't the only
victims
of careless driving in work areas. "Oftentimes, occupants of the at-fault
vehicle are injured or even killed during work zone crashes. That's why we
are
reminding drivers that ending work-zone casualties is a collaborative
effort."

Pennsylvania law states that anyone violating the posted speed limit by
more
than 5 mph will face doubled fines. The fine is determined based on the
amount
the driver is traveling over the speed limit. Governor Wolf signed a law in

2016, that says any driver who causes serious bodily injury within a work
zone
could face up to $5,000 in fines and a six-month license suspension. A
driver
causing a death within a work zone would face up to a $10,000 fine and
one-year
license suspension.

In addition, drivers who don't turn on their headlights in posted work
zones
face a $25 fine.

"Work zones present safety challenges, not only to construction crews, but
to
travelers," said Robert Latham, executive vice president of Associated
Pennsylvania Constructors. "According to the Federal Highway
Administration,
85 percent of work zone fatalities are travelers, not workers. The remedy
is
simple – just slow down and pay attention."

Since 1970, 87 PennDOT employees have died in the line of duty. For more
information on work zone safety visit, penndot.gov/safety. Join the
discussion
on social media by using #Slow4Zone and #NWZAW.

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