SACRAMENTO – Following the success of California’s “Slow
for the Cone Zone” public awareness campaign, the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans), California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), and
California Highway Patrol (CHP) today began asking drivers to “Be Work Zone
Alert” and help save lives on California’s roads.
“Caltrans workers toil along California roadways with vehicles flying by just feet—or inches away,” said California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Kelly. “This public awareness campaign reminds us all that highway workers have families and loved ones who are counting on motorists to ‘Be Work Zone Alert’ and help save lives.”
California
law requires all drivers to move over if safe to do so, or slow down when they
see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles.
Highway
construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States.
Since the 1920s, 183 Caltrans employees have been killed on the job—and the
risk of death is seven times higher for highway workers than for average
workers in any other industries, according to the latest data from the
California Department of Industrial Relations. On average 1,000 Caltrans
vehicles are struck each year—more than three each day.
Past
public awareness campaigns, such as “Click It or Ticket” and “Slow for the Cone
Zone” have helped improve public safety, reducing collisions, injuries and
fatalities on California’s highways.
In 2010, highway work zone injuries were
reduced by 33 percent over 2007 levels. Nevertheless, work zone collisions
still burdened the state with approximately $185 million in economic cost as
well as the tragic loss of human life.
"All it takes is a split second of inattention to destroy the lives of so many people...Using extra caution in construction zones will not only be safer for highway workers, it will also help ensure drivers and passengers make it home safely,”
SLOW DOWN. PAY ATTENTION. STAY SAFE.
