Archive: Around Town

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Regional Director Carl F. Ford was joined today by State Police Lieutenant Philip T. Rougeux and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Regional Director Richard Anderson to highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week and the critical importance of driving safely and staying alert in highway construction and maintenance work zones. The officials gathered this morning at the Bartell Road bridge replacement work area in Brewerton, Town of Clay, in Onondaga County to commemorate the week, which runs from April 19th through April 23rd, coinciding with the beginning of the highway construction season in many locations.

"Governor David Paterson supports the New York State Department of Transportation's actions to ensure that its highway construction and maintenance work zones are safe for workers and the traveling public," said NYSDOT Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee.  "It's important that motorists reduce their speeds and drive with caution through highway work zones to protect themselves, their passengers and those who work on our roadways, so that everyone returns home safely at the end of the day.  Indeed, work zones need all of our undivided attention."

"Slowing down, being alert and driving responsibly through any work zone is critical in keeping highway workers and motorists safe," said Regional Director Ford.  "While everyone is anxious to get to their destinations, drivers should always consider the conditions around them."

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials kicked off National Work Zone Awareness Week on Monday, April 19th at Battery Park in New York City, hosted by the state and city transportation departments.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is designated by the FHWA to raise driver awareness and reduce the number of vehicle intrusions into work zones, incidents that can cause injuries and fatalities.  Nationally, according to the most recent data available from the FHWA, there were 720 fatalities in work zones in 2008, down from 831 in 2007.

In New York State, the number of fatalities and accidents in work zones varies with the amount of construction and maintenance work being done. For example, last year, NYSDOT construction and maintenance work zones saw 511 traffic crashes, including 12 fatalities and 173 injury accidents.  In 2008, by comparison, there were more than 382 crashes, which resulted in 13 fatalities and 105 injuries.  The 2009 totals include 90 vehicular intrusions into work zones, representing an increase from the 79 that occurred in 2008.  A NYSDOT maintenance worker was among those killed both last year and in 2008.

This year, across New York State, 100 state troopers will staff the Traffic Incident Management Detail (TIM) dedicated full time to enforcing traffic safety regulations actively in NYSDOT highway work zones and helping to protect the safety of workers and travelers in them.  Between June 1 and Dec 31, 2009, the State Police TIM detail and the New York State Thruway's Troop T issued 21,900 tickets for speeding in and around highway work zones.

New York State Police Troop D Zone 2 Assistant Commander Lieutenant Rougeux said, "This year you will again see dedicated State Police patrols at most construction sites.  To avoid meeting them in person or, even worse - causing a crash and hurting someone - please slow down and pay attention."

Association of General Contractors Regional Director Rich Anderson said, "Highway construction work zones, by their nature, leave drivers less margin for error.  Shoulders are trimmed or eliminated, lanes are narrowed, highway traffic no longer has a median between drivers traveling in opposite directions, and large equipment and construction vehicles enter and exit along regular traffic lanes.  That's why slowing down and paying attention are crucial to the safety of travelers and workers alike."

NYSDOT works continually to improve safety and best practices within work zones.  Safety measures include conducting highway work at off-peak hours, when traffic is at a minimum, and reducing speed limits in work zones.  Others include modern flagging operations and the use of concrete median barriers, bright orange cones and barrels to separate traffic from work space; highly reflective sheeting on orange work zone signs; and rumble strips to alert motorists to road conditions.

Technology also is used to enable motorists to avoid work zones by taking alternate routes.   Electronic highway message signs give advanced warning of work zones, highway advisory radio frequencies broadcast work zone information, and www.511ny.org provides real-time highway construction information.

In addition, the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005 promotes safety in New York's highway work zones and increases penalties for those convicted of speeding within them.  The law was designed to enhance driver education, increase the accountability of drivers, and create more sensible work zones in which to travel.

Key provisions of the law provide for greater police presence in work zones to enforce posted speed reductions, increased deployment of radar speed display signs in work zones to provide visible reminders of motorist speed, and the imposition of a 60-day driver's license suspension for people convicted of two or more work zone speeding violations, in addition to the double minimum fine for speeding in work zones that had long been on the books.

NYSDOT recommends that motorists observe the following ten safety tips critical for safe driving in highway construction work zones:

1.  Expect the unexpected in any work zone along any road, major or minor. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be changed, and people and vehicles may be working on or near the road.

2.  Diamond-shaped orange warning signs are posted in advance of road construction projects. Slow down! Be alert! Pay attention to the signs!

3.  In addition to other warning signs, a "flagger ahead" warning sign may be posted in the work-zone. When you see this, stay alert and be prepared to obey the flagger's directions. In a work-zone, a flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying his or her directions.

4.  Stay calm. Work-zones aren't there to inconvenience you; They are necessary to improve the roads for everyone.

5.  You may see flashing arrow panels or "lane closed ahead" signs. Merge as soon as possible.  Don't zoom right up to the lane closure, then try to barge in; if everyone cooperates, traffic moves more efficiently. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by moving to the appropriate lane at first notice of an approaching work zone.

6.  Slow down when the signs say to.  A car traveling 60 miles per hour travels 88 feet per second.  If you are going 60 mph and you pass a sign that states "Road Work 1500 feet," you will be in that work zone in 17 seconds.

7.  The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear-end collision, so remember to leave two-seconds of braking distance between you and the car in front of you.  The amount of space required to provide two seconds of stopping time will increase the faster you're driving.

8.  Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment and workers.  Just like you, highway workers want to return home safely after each day's work.

9.  Some work zones -- such as for line painting, road patching, and mowing -- are mobile, moving down the road as work is finished. Just because you do not see the workers immediately after you see the warning signs, does not mean they are not out there.  Observe posted work zone signs until you see the one that states you've left the work zone.

10.  Highway agencies use different ways to inform motorists about the location and duration of major work zones.  Often, they will suggest a detour to help you avoid the work zone entirely.  Plan ahead and try an alternate route.

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