Work Zone Safety - We Can Do It Together!
Roads
Construction season is here - let's be safe!With summer construction season upon us it is time for a good reminder about safety. From barrels to cones, signs to flaggers, large equipment and all kinds of material, it is all happening!
Jackson County Roads alone does a tremendous amount of work in the spring and summer months to keep the road system in the best shape possible. Then there is all the additional work being done by our private, city, state, and federal partners on other roadways in Southern Oregon. Needless to say, if you drive around at all in Jackson County, you are almost sure to find a construction zone.
Road construction continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States with the risk of death being many times higher for road workers than for an average worker. However, did you know the risk is even greater for drivers and passengers? Most occurrences of fatalities in work zones are to drivers and their passengers traveling through the work zone. Our partners at ODOT have a website full of information on safety - check it out! We also want to recognize National Work Zone Awareness Week which runs April 17-21, 2023. Our partners at the American Traffic Safety Services Association are interested in your safety as well.
What should you do when you see a work zone? First and foremost is to slow down. Slower speeds allow you as the driver to react much better to changing conditions. Whether it is a minor lane shift or a full stop in the middle of nowhere, slower speeds in construction zones always help improve safety - not only for the workers, but for you as the driver.
So, watch for orange, slow down, obey the flagger and signs and have a safe trip through the construction sites. Soon you'll be through them and on your way....
