COMMENTARY: Be Aware of Highway Work Zones
By Craig Hammond
Listen up my fellow Wild, Wonderful West Virginians!
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Eisenhower Interstate System -- and it shows. Our highways are aging and they need attention. There is more traffic, more congestion, and (are you ready) more work zones.
Road crews from around the country will be taking advantage of summer weather to begin needed repairs. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is asking motorists to be alert, slow down, be courteous, patient, and obey signs and flaggers.
Last year nearly one thousand deaths and countless injuries occured nationally at work zones. Eighty percent of those who die in work zone crashes are motorists. It's dangerous out there folks.
Anyone who has changed a tire on a major highway knows full well the danger that highway workers face. Rick Capka, FHWA Administrator, has done a phenomenal job in raising the level of awareness of highway work zone danger. He has put in place new procedures for work zones and has initiated new safety programs for workers, motorists, and law enforcement. I give the FHWA an A+ for safety this year.
So when you see the orange barrels, vests, signs, and cones slow down and be careful.
By being alert, staying informed, and planning your trips accordingly we can all enjoy West Virginia's scenic highways and get to our destinations safely.