Officials urge safety, highway worker shares close call story
Release date: April 16, 2024
Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Deputy Secretary Kristina Boardman yesterday joined county and local officials to urge people to drive safely in work zones throughout Wisconsin this construction season.
Each year, more than 2,100 crashes happen in Wisconsin work zones, putting workers and motorists’ lives at risk. At the news conference, highway workers shared personal stories about experiences working just feet away from highway traffic. We all play a role to keep work zones safe.
Watch yesterday’s news conference about Work Zone Awareness Week. Please credit WisDOT if you use segments of this video.
How can people help?
- Drive safely. Be courteous, put the phone down and obey posted speed limits.
- Move over, or slow down, when you see workers and vehicles with flashing lights along the highway. Wisconsin's Move Over Law applies to maintenance operations as well as emergency response units.
- Show support for work zone safety with the social media hashtags #WorkWithUs, #NWZAW, #WorkZoneSafety, or #Orange4Safety (but please never text and drive).
- Don't forget to participate in “Go Orange Day" on Wednesday (April 17) by wearing orange in support of highway safety. Tag your photo/video on social media with #Orange4Safety and #GoOrangeDay.
- A nationwide moment of silence is planned for Friday (April 19) for people who lost their lives in a work zone incident.
Visit
wisconsindot.gov and search “work zone" for more tips and information.
WisDOT recently produced two radio Public Service Announcements to emphasize safe driving in work zones, as well as using
511 Wisconsin to “know before you go". The
15-second and
30-second spots will be shared on radio stations across the state.
For more information, contact:
WisDOT Office of Public Affairs
(608) 266-3581,
opa.exec@dot.wi.gov