ARDOT participates in work zone safety campaign

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is joining states from across the nation in April to remind motorists to slow down and be cautious in construction work zones.It is part of a national campaign titled “2018 Work Zone Safety: Everybody’s Responsibility” aimed at reducing accidents in work zones. Members of the ARDOT staff joined other local officials for a news conference at a work zone located on U.S. Highway 67 near Cabot.

Tony Sullivan, ARDOT Assistant Chief Engineer for Operations, says over 65,000 vehicles pass through that particular work zone every day, and it can be dangerous for motorists and construction crews.

According to ARDOT, nearly 800 people were killed and tens of thousands injured in highway work zones in 2016 across the United States. Most of those fatalities were drivers and passengers. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of work zone crashes involve non-motorists – such as construction workers.

Sullivan adds speeding, inattentive driving and lack of seatbelt use as some of the top reasons for the accidents.

ARDOT officials say the upcoming spring and summer months will see an increase in the number of work zones across Arkansas and the rest of the country due to the favorable weather for construction. Work zones will include everything from interstate highway widening projects to pothole patching and mowing.

Chief Jay Thompson of the Arkansas Highway Police urges motorists to be aware of an increased police presence in work zones.

An ARDOT website at www.IDriveArkansas.com <http://www.IDriveArkansas.com> includes a map showing all construction zone locations in Arkansas.

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