Pennsylvania Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
By: Lynn Adler
Updated: April 4, 2012
HARRISBURG - Marking the unofficial start of road construction season, this is Pennsylvania's Work Zone Safety Awareness Week.
The whole idea is to get drivers to pay more attention to construction zones while on the road by highlighting the dangers faced by road crews.
Last year state police said there were more than 1,800 work zone crashes, killing 21 people, including a highway worker.
"Behind me is a very sobering memorial to 83 men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty since 1970," a PennDot spokesman said. "If it doesn't move you, I'd be shocked. It moves me every time I see it. These are workers in the field who have died in the line of duty because of accidents in work zones."
Drivers caught going even 11 miles over the speed limit or involved in a crash while in a construction zone can not only face a ticket and steep fines, but also potentially lose their license temporarily.
The whole idea is to get drivers to pay more attention to construction zones while on the road by highlighting the dangers faced by road crews.
Last year state police said there were more than 1,800 work zone crashes, killing 21 people, including a highway worker.
"Behind me is a very sobering memorial to 83 men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty since 1970," a PennDot spokesman said. "If it doesn't move you, I'd be shocked. It moves me every time I see it. These are workers in the field who have died in the line of duty because of accidents in work zones."
Drivers caught going even 11 miles over the speed limit or involved in a crash while in a construction zone can not only face a ticket and steep fines, but also potentially lose their license temporarily.
