Drivers Urged To Follow Safe Driving Tips in Highway

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                                   Friday Safety Brief                                                   April 15, 2005

                          Drivers Urged T o Foll ow Saf e Driving Tips in Highway Work Zones
Work Zones On The Rise As Summer Approaches; Most Work Zone Fatalities Are Drivers Or Passengers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s top highway official today urged drivers to follow safe driving habits as more
highway work zones pose greater challenges to drivers during the upcoming road construction season.

“No one should sit on the sidelines of safety,” said Federal Highway
Administrator Mary E. Peters. “Orange and white safety barrels are                                       Putting the Work Zone
springing up as temperatures climb. Taking a few simple steps will keep
drivers, passengers and our highway crews safe in construction areas                                     Problem in Perspective
and avoid the traffic tie-ups that work zone accidents cause.”
                                                                                                         One work zone fatality
In support of Administrator Peter’s call, Deputy Administrator Rick
Capka helped kick-off National Work Zone Awareness Week at an event
                                                                                                          every 8.5 hours (3/day)
near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction project outside                                              One work zone injury every
Washington, D.C., with the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials, the American Traffic Safety Services                                            13 minutes (113/day)
Association, the American Road and Transportation Builders
Association and the Associated General Contractors.

“The highway is a workplace for thousands of men and women, and we’re asking drivers to remember
that,” Capka said.

Work zone fatalities have increased 48 percent since 1997, according to FHWA. In 2003, work zone
accidents claimed 1,028 lives and injured 41,239 others. Four out of five people killed in work zones are
either drivers or passengers.

                                                                             Peters and Capka encourage drivers to follow FHWA’s “Ten
          Ten Tips for Driving                                              Tips for Driving Safely in Work Zones,” such as slowing
                                                                             down, obeying road crew flaggers and avoiding tailgating.
           Safely in Work Zones                                              These       safety      tips    are       available    at
   1.
                                                                             www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetytips.
          Expect the unexpected
   2.     Slow down                                                          In addition to developing safety tips for drivers, FHWA is
                                                                             looking at new ways to increase work zone safety, including
   3.     Don't tailgate                                                     more durable pavements, better work zone design and real-
   4.     Keep a safe distance between you                                   time information services to help drivers plan alternate routes
                                                                             around construction areas.
          and the car ahead of you
   5.     Pay attention to the signs                                         How Significant is the Work Zone Safety Problem?
   6.     Obey road crew flaggers                                            With nearly a 50% increase in work zone fatalities between
   7.
                                                                             1997 and 2003, work zone safety is a growing roadway
          Stay alert and minimize distractions                               safety concern. In 2003, there were 1,028 work zone
   8.     Keep up with traffic flow                                          fatalities; this figure represents 2.4% of all roadway fatalities
                                                                             for the year. Over four out of every five-work zone fatalities
   9.     Schedule enough time to drive                                      were motorists.
          safely and check radio, TV and Web
                                                                             In all, there were an estimated 102,000
          sites for traffic information.                                     work zone crashes and an estimated
   10. Be patient and stay calm                                              41,000 people were injured in work zone
                                                                             crashes (1.4% of all roadway injuries).


This publication is provided for information purposes only and is not intended as a complete or exhaustive source of complian ce or safety information. This
“Safety Brief” is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any
local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.