Drivers reminded to slow down and be alert during construction season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Construction season is ramping up, which means keeping an eye out for workers.

It's National Work Zone Awareness Week, a time to remind drivers to be alert, slow down and avoid distractions while driving through construction zones.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says work zone fatalities dropped in 2018, but the number of work zone crashes in the state increased.

Jason Siwula, acting executive director Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, used the Dixie Highway improvement project as a backdrop for a message about safety Monday. He said drivers should be alert in work zones, watch for speed limit changes, respect flaggers and be patient.

"How would you drive if you knew a loved one was working on the side of the road?" Siwula asked. "That's the situation we're in each and every day with our road crews and our contractors and our partners out there on the side of the road working to keep you safe."

Distracted driving is one of the main causes of work zone crashes. Officials say texting or operating a phone, eating or applying makeup can take your eyes off the road, causing a crash that could injure or kill construction workers.

According to KYTC, there were over 1,000 work zone crashes with three fatalities in 2018. And the Indiana Department of Transportation says there were nearly 3,000 work zone crashes with 15 fatalities that same year.

Highway Superintendent in Jackson Co, IN says his crews experience too many close calls in construction zones. He has them park trucks in the middle of the road w/ doors open to prevent drivers speeding by. #NationalWorkzoneAwarenessWeek pic.twitter.com/nsyEhvOteA
— Fallon Glick (@FallonGlick) April 8, 2019

In an effort to protect road crews, Jackson County, Indiana, Highway Superintendent Jerry Ault has instructed his crews to park their trucks in the middle of the road with the doors wide open to prevent cars from speeding past.

"Because if we stay on one side of the road to try and patch (potholes), then people just go by," Ault said. "It seems like people don't have time anymore."

He started this over a year ago after he had a close encounter with a car while removing a tree from the road.

"My safety vest got caught by a rear view mirror on a car, and I had a chainsaw in my hand," Ault said. "And from that day on, I park my truck in the middle of the road."

Wednesday is "Glow Orange Day," when the public is being asked to support work zone safety by lighting up homes, buildings and landmarks in the color orange. The Big Four Bridge is expected to be lit up orange to show support for work zone safety. People are also asked to wear orange Wednesday.

KYTC has declared Thursday as "Vested in Work Zone Safety" day. The public is invited to take pictures wearing reflective vests or gear and post it on social media with the hashtag #vestedinwzsafety.