Alabama Dept. of Transportation reminds you to be alert in work zones

Photo – WAKA Action 8 News

The Alabama Department of Transportation has announced National Work Zone Awareness Week.

The week will run April 21-25, it was announced today at the Alabama Capitol.

ALDOT is joining states across the nation to encourage drivers to slow down and eliminate distractions in work zones.

“Slow down, pay attention, eliminate distractions, take your time getting through those roadways because we want you to get where you’re going safely, and we want our people on the roadways to get home to their families safely,” Josh Phillips of ALDOT said.

“Ignoring the work zone warning signs and traffic control devices, speeding through the work zones, being distracted when you’re driving through the work zones, performing those types of activities going through our work zones there’s a much higher likelihood that you’re going to have a crash,” ALDOT construction engineer Stacey Glass said.

In 2024, there were 2,044 work zone crashes in Alabama, resulting in 15 fatalities and 527 injuries. The number of crashes increased by over 250 from the previous year, while the number of fatalities decreased from 25 in 2023.

Here are ways to keep yourself and ALDOT workers safe:

• Know before you go. Check ALGOTraffic to find out if there are construction work zones along your path and allow extra time to navigate those areas.
• Pay attention. It is incredibly dangerous when your eyes come off the road, especially in work zones. Don’t drive distracted by texting, eating or other activities that take your hands off the wheel.
• Slow down. Don’t drive over the posted speed limit through work zones. You may encounter slowed or stopped traffic within seconds.
• Don’t tailgate. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of your vehicle so you don’t clip a nearby vehicle.
• Merge safely. Drivers should not speed to try and pass other vehicles as they merge into the work zone.

Fines for speeding and any other moving violation double in work zones when construction works are present. Work zone crashes are dangerous to both highway workers and motorists. National statistics show that four out of every five of those killed are motorists.