Work Zone Awareness Week

It’s Work Zone Awareness Week. 134 MoDOT workers have been killed in the line of duty since 1934. Area Engineer Dave Taylor tells News Talk KZRG how they’re working to make the jobs for these road side work crews safer everyday.

“We’ll try to put those concrete barriers in between us and the traffic to block off, so in case people do get too close. That’s a protection area in there. We put up extra signs far in advance warning people that there’s a work zone coming up, and slow down the speed.”

This year’s theme is “Drive Like You Work Here.”

In addition, Taylor says the work zone speed limits do apply even when workers are not present. He also said the number one cause of work zone crashes is distracted driving.

We’ll learn more about MoDOT’s safety initiatives on Tuesday morning’s Morning News Watch.