LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
176, that is the number of work zone
crashes that happened in the Lufkin district's nine-county area in 2010.
Monday marked the start of a weeklong initiative reminding drivers their
choices behind the wheel directly affect those who work to maintain roadways.
"There are people out there
working and they need to be safe and cautious when they are driving through
work zones," said Kathi White, TxDOT spokesperson.
In the state of Texas 100 people were
killed in work zone accidents, 2 were from the Lufkin district.
Officials believe that in more rural
areas its easier to lose focus.
"People think they're driving out
in the country and they don't see a lot of traffic so they can get complacent,"
said David Wars, Contract Inspector.
David Wars works as a contact inspector in
Trinity County, he's seen preoccupied drivers firsthand.
"We had our work zone set up,
signs on both ends. I was flagging and he just kept coming fast got there
close locked up the breaks, he was reading the newspaper," said Wars.
Technology is doing more harm than good. With
many motorists on their cell phones while driving they run the risk of missing
a work zone warning completely.
"That's something that we commonly
see in the work zones, especially when someone doesn't realize we're there
until they're right on top of us," said Wars.
The initiative is not only to ensure
the safety of road crews but drivers as well.
"We have some very large pieces
of equipment in the work zone and if a small car was to his that piece of
equipment it could be very bad for the driver," said Wars.
Because after a day at work, everybody wants
the same thing.
"Their main goal is to go home in
the evenings to their families just like everybody else," said White.
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