General
Children of SC highway workers are the focus of a new campaign to improve safety in work zones, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT).
Children from the new Let 'em Work campaign pose by one of the signs that will be erected near work zones across the state. Shown from left are: Cory Frick, Ahura Webb, Ethan Feaster, Weston Sharpe, Rebecca Galloway, Dwandre York, Taylor Frick, Ambrea Jacobs, Collin James and Matthew Davidson. (Photo by Rob Thompson/SCDOT)
During a news conference in Columbia on May 19, SCDOT unveiled new signs depicting sons and daughters of employees of SCDOT. The signs will be placed at work zones across South Carolina.
"Highway construction workers are real people with real families, and these children want to see their mothers and fathers come home at the end of the day," said Director of Construction Danny Shealy. "We hope seeing the faces of these children will remind motorists to be extra cautious when traveling through work zones."
Director of Safety Terecia Wilson said work zones present a danger to both highway workers and motorists.
"The number one cause of work zone crashes is driver inattention," Wilson said. "We are very concerned about the alarming number of crashes and fatalities in work zones. We are concerned both for the motorists and for the safety of our employees. When you're going through a work zone, you've got to expect the unexpected."
Springtime is a busy time on the highways, with people traveling to vacation. SCDOT also is busy not only with construction but with maintenance such as mowing right-of-ways and line painting. The upcoming Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of the "100 deadliest days" for traffic fatalities.
Shealy said SCDOT has an accelerated construction program underway called "27 in 7," which uses innovative financing to complete projects in 7 years instead of the 27 years using traditional methods.
"It is very likely that motorists will be encountering work zones as they take vacation trips and during their day-to-day travel," Shealy said. "We are making these improvements to help motorists reach their destinations safely and efficiently."
Work zone safety is a top concern at SCDOT. Between 1999 and 2003 there were 8,904 traffic crashes in South Carolina that were work zone related. Seventy-six people died in these crashes and an additional 3,805 sustained non-fatal injuries. In 2003 alone, there were 23 persons killed in work zone related crashes and 838 injured.
SCDOT offered 10 tips for driving safely in work zones including: expect the unexpected; slow down; don't tailgate; keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you; pay attention to the signs; obey road crew flaggers; stay alert and minimize distractions; keep up with traffic flow; schedule enough time to drive safely and check radio, TV and Web sites for traffic information; and be patient and stay calm.
The children's signs that will be going up in construction work zones were produced through a federal highway safety grant that SCDOT received from the SC Department of Public Safety. The signs will be erected at no cost to SCDOT through a partnership with the Associated General Contractors of the Carolinas (AGC). "We are very grateful for these partnerships," said Wilson. "The resources made available through the federal grant and the support of the AGC are appreciated by all highway workers. We hope the messages they convey will encourage all motorists to 'Let'em Work, Let'em Live - it's not just a slogan."
The Executive Director of SCDOT is Elizabeth S. Mabry. The SCDOT Commission includes Chairman Tee Hooper of Greenville; Bob Harrell Sr., 1st Congressional District; John N. Hardee, 2nd Congressional District; Marion P. Carnell, 3rd Congressional District; William C. "Bud" Turner, 4th Congressional District; Bobby T. Jones, 5th Congressional District; and John M. "Moot" Truluck, 6th Congressional District.
A high-resolution image is available for download from the following Web site:
http://www.scdot-transfer.org/SCDOTPhotos/LetEmWorkKids.jpg
PHOTO INFORMATION: Children from the new Let 'em Work campaign pose by one of the signs that will be erected near work zones across the state. Shown from left are: Cory Frick, Ahura Webb, Ethan Feaster, Weston Sharpe, Rebecca Galloway, Dwandre York, Taylor Frick, Ambrea Jacobs, Collin James and Matthew Davidson. (Photo by Rob Thompson/SCDOT)
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10 Tips for Driving Safely in Work Zones
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! (Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be changed, and people may be working on or near the road.)
SLOW DOWN! (Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes.)
DON'T TAILGATE! KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAR AHEAD OF YOU. (The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear end collision, so leave two car lengths between you and the car in front of you. So, don't tailgate.)
KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS! (The warning signs are there to help you and other drivers move safely through the work zone. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that says you've left the work zone.)
OBEY ROAD CREW FLAGGERS! (The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely in the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying his or her directions.)
STAY ALERT AND MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS! (Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or using cell phones while driving in a work zone.
KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW. (Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging as soon as possible. Don't drive right up to the lane closure and then try barge in.)
SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIME TO DRIVE SAFELY AND CHECK RADIO, TV AND WEBSITES FOR TRAFFIC INFORMATION. (Expect delays and leave early so you can reach your destination on time. Check the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse - http://wzsafety.tamu.edu - for information on work zone delays throughout the country.)
BE PATIENT AND STAY CALM. (Work zones aren't there to personally inconvenience you. Remember, the work zone crew members are working to improve the road and make your future drive better.)
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© Copyright 2003 by South Carolina Department of Transportation
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