4/22/12 – Orange construction barrels are a common site these days. This coming week, April 23 through 27, is Work Zone Awareness Week here in Wisconsin. Captain David Pabst with WisDOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety stresses the dangers of not paying attention when driving through work zones. Pabst says there were more than 1,700 work zone crashes in Wisconsin last year resulting in eight deaths and nearly 750 injuries. While construction workers are vulnerable to drivers’ actions, about three out of four people killed in work zones are motorists. For the safety of everyone, Pabst says traffic fines are doubled in work zones and are strictly enforced. Work zones often have narrowed lanes, lane changes, temporary pavements, reduced speeds and night work. Captain Pabst says drivers need to slow down, allow extra room and always stay focus on what’s ahead of them.
