Nevada notes grim stat as safety reminder: 1,179 work zone crashes resulted in 12 fatalities
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 04/08/2019 - 2:28pm
CARSON CITY — With numerous road improvement projects across the region, the Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada Highway Patrol are reminding motorists to drive safely in road work zones every day, including during National Work Zone Awareness Week, held April 8-12.
Figures for statewide work zone crashes show a total of 12 fatalities out of 1,179 crash that happened from July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018.
“Tragically, there are hundreds of crashes every year in Nevada road work zones,” Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Matt McLaughlin explained. “Slowing down, always buckling up and focusing on the road are important ways to be safe on the road, and that is particularly true in road work zones. We heavily enforce work zone safety, with troopers stationed in most highway road work zones to ensure drivers are following work zone speed limits and driving safely.”
In calendar year 2017, Nevada Highway Patrol troopers dedicated roughly 12,000 man hours to patrolling and enforcing road work zones statewide.
NDOT has also begun deploying new portable rumble strips in certain work zones. The heavy and durable strips can be temporarily laid across travel lanes without any roadway drilling or adhesives and removed, folded and transported.
Driving over the rumble strips creates both a noise and vibration to alert motorists to slow for the upcoming road work zone. Used in other states such as Texas, the rumble strips have been shown to reduce crashes within work zone traffic lines by as much as 60 percent.
This year, major NDOT road construction projects will resurface I-80 from Keystone Avenue to the Nevada-California state line, widen U.S. 50 between Stagecoach and Silver Springs, improve Kietzke Lane from Mill Street to Galletti Way and more. Updates on current state road conditions are available by logging onto nvroads.com or calling ‘511’ before driving.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility in work zones.
SAFE WORK ZONE DRIVING TIPS
— Always buckle up and do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or while sleepy or distracted.
— Nevada law doubles the penalty for speeding, up to $1,000, in any marked road construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present.
— Always slow to posted work zone speed limits and slow for and obey construction signs and flaggers.
— Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance from cars ahead, traffic barriers, construction equipment and workers.
— Watch for and follow all warning, lane/ramp closure and construction detour signs, and be prepared to change lanes or merge as directed by road signs or flaggers.
— Plan ahead and give yourself time to reach your destination.
— Continue to pay attention to work zone signs, even in areas of long-term road work.
— Remain calm. Remember that work zones are not there to inconvenience you — they are necessary to improve the roadway and safely guide motorists through the area.
— Don’t resume normal driving speed until you see roadway signs indicating it is safe to do so.
Finally, plan ahead and give yourself time to reach your destination.
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