ODOT Asks Drivers to Slow Down For ‘Construction Zone Awareness Week’

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio- This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week, a week highlighting the importance of being safe around construction zones all across the country.

This year’s theme for the week is, ‘Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down,’ encouraging motorists to reduce speed and pay attention to the cones and barrels on the roads.

While driving through construction zones, drivers are asked to give the work projects full, undivided attention.

There is an increase of crews and their equipment being hit by cars this year according to Morgan Overbey, ODot District 5 Public Information Officer.

She let us know about the issue, “here we are, it’s April, middle of April and crews this year have already been struck more than 70 times. That’s a number that’s very high, 154 times last year, the whole year and already more than 70 crews have been struck this year and that’s like I said, trucks equipment, that sort of thing.”

Ohio law does requires drivers to move over one lane when driving by workers or anyone roadside.

There have been 162 ODOT workers killed in total while working, and the goal is for it to never be another. ODOT hopes to send every worker back to their family at the end of their shift.

“Orange Barrel season, construction season, means progress, that’s what it means. So if you’re frustrated, you just want to get to where you’re going, think about our workers out there that want to get home to their families at the end of the day,” Overbey told us.

Today specifically is Go Orange Day, ODOT employees ask that the public wear orange to show their support for construction workers.

For more information on construction zones near you, visit the Ohio Department of Transportation’s web address.