April 20 kicks off Work Zone Awareness Week in Portage Co.

Metro Wire Staff

April 20 kicks off Work Zone Awareness Week.

The national event is an effort to draw attention to the safety needs of road workers during construction season.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, there were more than 2,400 work zone crashes in the state last year, with 899 injuries and 18 fatalities. In an effort to draw more local attention to the problem, the Portage Co. Board of Supervisors in March declared April 20-24 as Work Zone Awareness Week, and remind motorists to drive carefully in highway work zones.

As the weather turns warmer, work zones will be more prevalent putting more highway workers and drivers at risk. According to a news release from the Portage Co. Highway Department, crashes tend to occur when drivers speed through a work zone and do not pay attention to changing road conditions.

In Wisconsin, work zones include maintenance jobs such as short-term crack-filling and pothole repair—or longer projects like major highway construction and rehabilitation.

Drivers are reminded of the state’s “Move Over, Slow Down” law which requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down in order to provide a “safety zone” for a squad car, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck, utility vehicle, or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing.

Work zones can include daily maintenance, emergency vehicle stops, utility work, and even garbage pick-up.

The highway dept. also reminded motorists that it is illegal to talk on a hand-held mobile device while driving through a work zone. Violators face fines of up to $40 on the first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses, plus court costs. Following the law is simple: “Orange cones – Put down the phones!”