Northeast Indiana got a grim reminder of the importance of driving safely through a construction zone this week.
A state highway contract worker from Fort Wayne was killed while working on a road construction project on U.S. 27 in Decatur. The accident occurred just one day before the state held its annual event promoting awareness of work-zone safety.
Sadly, such tragedies happen all too frequently across the United States. In 2009, 667 workers and motorists were killed in highway work zones and more than 40,000 were injured, according to the federal highway administration. Twelve people were killed and 602 were injured in work zone crashes in Indiana last year.
The state this week stressed its latest initiative, dubbed “Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones. For Everyone.” While state troopers can write steeper tickets for drivers not obeying construction zone rules – $1,000 fines for speeding, $5,000 fines for driving recklessly and $10,000 fines plus jail time for injuring or killing a worker – it’s really up to the individual drivers to make the decision to be safe.
The state recommends several tips, which can be found online at www.WorkZoneSafety.IN.gov. The common sense tips include slowing down, keeping your distance from other vehicles and minimizing distractions, such as mobile phones and changing CDs.
I know we all feel hurried and impatient when driving.
But drivers can take small steps to alter their driving behaviors in construction zones to reduce the inherently increased risk of tragedy.
Q. Why did the city add a traffic light at Coldwater Road and Till Road? I never saw long lines of vehicles waiting to turn onto Coldwater from Till or the offices straight across Till Road. – Jim
A. Well, Jim, you aren’t the only one with concerns about this new signal, but the city believes it is necessary.
For those who don’t know, the city last week installed a new signal at Coldwater and Till roads. It was activated Wednesday morning.
According to the city, the signal is intended to help relieve congestion for drivers in the Dawsons Creek area and in the commercial development on the east side of Coldwater.
Regional restriction
Indiana 205 was restricted from just north of U.S. 33 in Whitley County to just south of Indiana 3 in Noble County. Motorists should expect one lane to be open in each direction. Brooks Construction will be paid $2 million to resurface the road, which is expected to be done by early August.
Radio Sage
This week’s bonus audio question comes from Ron Girardot of Woodburn, who asks about Webster Road. The segment originally aired Friday afternoon on WOWO and can be heard online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
