Slow down or pay the price

The ultimate price is someone’s life, maybe even your own.

That’s what roadway and utility workers are reminding drivers as more and more orange cones and work zones appear on roadways across the state and nation.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, the Washington State Department of Transportation will host the 2014 kick off for National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. This event brings national attention to safety in work zones for both motorists and workers.

The 2014 Work Zone Awareness Week theme, “Work Zone Speeding: A Costly Mistake,” was chosen to highlight the costs for a driver who doesn’t slow down. They could face double fines and jail time. And, the ultimate price is someone’s life, a roadway worker, a family member or the driver’s own.

Those who do slow down in work zones can help set an example for young drivers. WSDOT statistics show that nearly 40 percent of work zone collisions in Washington involve a driver age 30 or younger.

Visit the WSDOT Go Orange for Work Zone Safety website for more information.

Hyperlinks within the release:
• National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week: www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/outreach/wz_awareness.htm
• Go Orange for Work Zone Safety: www.wsdot.wa.gov/safety/brake/