Work Zone Safety: We’re All In This Together.
The week of April 15-19 is designated National Work Zone Safety Week
. The Federal Highway Association’s (FHWA) goal is to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. Since 1999, FHWA has worked with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) to coordinate and sponsor the event.
This year’s theme “We’re All In This Together” highlights the complexities of work zones, especially in urban areas, and the need for awareness and planning on the part of everyone affected by work zones – DOTs, road workers, drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, emergency response, law enforcement, utility workers.
According to FHWA, there were 87,606 crashes in work zones in 2010 and 37,476 injuries in work zones. This equates to one work zone injury every 14 minutes (96 a day), or about four people injured every hour. And, according to the Center for Disease Control, Florida ranked as one of the top three States with the most motor vehicle crash fatalities in work zones in 2008 and in 2009 ranked number two.
Accidents in Palm Beach County work zones can occur due to various factors:
- Construction zone areas that are unclearly marked
- Failure to provide proper personnel to control traffic in work zone areas
- Improper placement of barricades, signs, and other traffic control devices
- Drivers who are unsure of construction zone traffic control directions
- Drivers who are driving distracted
- Drivers who are speeding
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a work zone accident and would like to learn more about your legal rights, please contact us here.
