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News Brief

April 10, 2019Missouri |  By: Jenny James

National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 8-12

This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week and the Missouri Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to "be your own hero" by buckling up and putting their phones down everywhere they drive, including work zones. Communications specialist with MODOT, Marcia Johnson, says it is important to be aware of work zones.

"This Work Zone Awareness Week is April 8th-12th, and we're just asking folks to pay attention to the workzones really is what it's about.  Just focusing on those workers' safety in the workzones but also on the drivers' safety as they traverse through the work zones across Missouri and across the country."

Johnson adds that there are different types of work zones.

"There's the traditional ones we've seen with the barrels and cones that people know when they see the signs come up.  But there's also moving work zones.  Those are a little bit different.  So folks need to be aware of other vehicles on the road, especially those with flashing lights or that might have workers ahead of them."

Johnson also adds that in 2018, 13 people were killed in Missouri work zone crashes with distracted driving being the main contributor.

"Most of us have cellphones and we're just asking folks that when you get into a vehicle, buckle up and put the phone down.  Buckle up, phone down.  That's the easiest thing to remember.  And that will not only protect them, and the workers in the work zone as well."

The Missouri Department of Transportation encourages the Northwest District to wear orange on Wednesday, April 10 to help remind motorists to slow down and avoid distractions while traveling through work zones.